The American reinforcement will not hesitate to rejoin the Beermen's "Death 15" in case they need his services anew.
San Miguel reinforcement Bennie Boatwright averaged 31 points in the Beermen's blowout Games Two and Three wins that gave his team a fast 2-0 start against Magnolia in their race-to-four PBA season 48 Commissioner's Cup titular showdown.
But with the stakes getting higher, the Hotshots recovered their defensive identity, posing problems for the American as Magnolia counterpart Tyler Bey did his job in containing him from then on.
Living up to their "Death 15" tag, the Beermen stepped up for their struggling import, who later said that San Miguel is indeed about what everyone in the team could contribute.
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“It’s a team. It’s about the team. It’s not about one player, it’s not about two players. It’s all about all 15 guys,” Boatwright said shortly after San Miguel completed a masterful 104-102 come-from-behind Game Six clincher over Magnolia Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
June Mar Fajardo, nursing a left calf injury in Game Four, still had been a double-double machine for the Beermen. Best Player of the Conference CJ Perez also did his share, delivering for SMB all series long en route to winning the the Finals Most Valuable Player plum. Jericho Cruz, who sat out in Game Three on a one-game suspension due to five accumulated technical fouls this conference, rallied San Miguel in Games Five and Six thanks to his three-point sniping.
The list goes on.
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“Everybody knows their role. I believe in all my teammates. They believe in me. We believe in each other," said the former University of Southern California Trojan.
Boatwright's first taste of PBA action, which included winning his first nine games with the team before being halted in Game Three, was definitely one for the books.
That is why he would not hesitate to return to the Philippines and don the Beermen jersey anew the next time they call his number.
“Yes, Sir. Yes, Sir,” he said when asked if he would like to suit up again for San Miguel in the import-laced conference.