PBA: Justin Patton impresses in debut as San Miguel sends Macau to 0-5

Justin Patton quickly made his presence felt as he helped San Miguel overwhelm Macau, 110-94, and return to its winning ways in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner's Cup on Tuesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Patton, who came in to replace Marcus Lee as the Beermen's import, dropped a double-double outing of 24 points and 17 rebounds to mark his PBA debut as San Miguel got back on track after losing to TNT last Saturday.

Cjay Perez top-scored with 26 markers while June Mar Fajardo torched the guest team with 16 points and 16 rebounds to go with six assists and two steals, allowing San Miguel to improve to to 2-2 while sinking the Black Knights to a 0-5 card.

"Makikita niyo naman kanina, he (Patton) really wants to play and I gave him a lot of time because hindi pa siya nakaka-adjust to the Philippine brand of basketball," San Miguel head coach Leo Austria said.

"He's trying to figure it out. Yesterday, we have a long practice for him to know what kind of plays we're going to run but the good thing with him, lahat ng sinasabi namin ay he was able to pick it up right away."

(As you can see, he really wants to play and I gave him a lot of time because he hasn't had the chance to adjust to the Philippine brand of basketball... He's trying to figure it out. Yesterday, we have a long practice for him to know what kind of player we're going to run but the good thing with him, everything we said, he was able to pick it up right away.)

Despite limited time to integrate their new import, the Beermen still appeared as dangerous as ever. 

Perez drained a huge four-point shot that sent San Miguel to its biggest lead at 90-65 in the third period. But the Black Knights staged a fightback with Damian Chongqui, Chon Pong Lao, and Phoenix Shackelford sparking a 20-3 rampage bridging the third and fourth periods to pull Macau within eight, 93-85, early in the fourth. 

But San Miguel responded as Marcio Lassiter buried a three-pointer of his own before Patton completed a three-point play that sparked a 12-0 run, giving the Beermen a 105-85 cushion. 

Don Trollano and JM Calma helped put the game away, leaving Macau still in search of its first breakthrough victory.

Tony Mitchell paced Macau with 23 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and two steals while Chongqui and Ramon Cao chipped in 19 and 18 markers, respectively.

—JMB, GMA News