Chris Ross made timely buckets.
This time, there was no late-game meltdown for the San Miguel Beermen.
San Miguel survived the surge of the Meralco Bolts down the stretch to hack out a 93-83 win in the PBA Commissioner's Cup on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The Bolts cut the deficit to four, 85-81, with only two minutes left in the game. But Chris Ross strung up seven of the Beermen's last eight points to enter the win column.
San Miguel blew a huge lead versus the NLEX Road Warriors in their conference opener last Wednesday and lost in overtime. The team made sure that there would be no deja vu against Meralco.
Import Ivan Aska carried SMB with 27 points, 13 rebounds, and two steals.
"I just learned from our last game. It was my first time (playing in the PBA)," said Aska, who fouled out in his debut, in the postgame press conference. "I told myself I had to stay in the game and just do what I do."
"Basketball is a learning process. It's just his second game, and once he feels how I coach and how the players react to him, then he can help even more and gain a lot through me, through him, and especially through his teammates," added coach Jorge Gallent.
Aska got ample support from June Mar Fajardo, Cjay Perez, and Ross who chipped in 17, 16, and 10 markers, respectively. They also combined for 25 rebounds, 12 assists, and five steals.
With San Miguel already missing key players in Vic Manuel and Jericho Cruz and Terrence Romeo being hobbled by a lingering pain in his knee, the remaining locals will have to carry a heavier load.
Gallent, however, said he's not too concerned, noting that they have players on the bench who can step up.
One backup who could is rookie Kyt Jimenez. The flashy guard made his much-anticipated debut after being benched against NLEX, contributing two points, two rebounds, and two steals in 12 minutes. He, however, got hurt when he got elbowed by Meralco's Cliff Hodge.
"He played quality minutes. The kid's an energy guy," remarked Gallent.
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The Beermen will next face the Converge FiberXers on Saturday in Tiaong, Quezon.
The Bolts, on the other hand, who fell to 1-2, will battle the TNT Tropang Giga on Sunday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.