San Miguel Beer pulled off a 94-89 win over Phoenix on Saturday night, September 12, in the PBA On Tour, doing it without reigning MVP June Mar Fajardo and All-Star CJ Perez in the lineup. Marcio Lassiter and Mo Tautuaa carried the load in their absence.

The Beermen were missing six regulars total at Capital Arena in Ilagan City, Isabela, yet still turned back a determined Fuel Masters squad. Lassiter and Brondial controlled most of the game to keep San Miguel in front.

San Miguel’s Depth Covers for Six Missing Regulars

Fajardo and Perez are both still on vacation following national team duty in the recent FIBA World Cup qualifying window. Don Trollano and Jerrick Ahanmisi were also unavailable, currently competing with Gilas Pilipinas at the Nagoya Asian Games.

Import George King remained in the U.S. to attend his child’s birthday, while Jericho Cruz sat out for a personal matter. Team captain Chris Ross and big man JM Calma were also out as San Miguel’s Governors’ Cup campaign remains on break.

Lassiter, Tautuaa Take Over Down the Stretch

Lassiter topscored with 30 points, torching the Fuel Masters from all over the floor. Tautuaa came up clutch late, drilling a huge three-pointer that gave San Miguel breathing room in the final minute, 93-89.

Rodney Brondial chipped in 17 points, while Jeron Teng added 14 and Tautuaa finished with 13 to round out San Miguel’s balanced scoring. The Beermen leaned on that depth throughout the night to hold off Phoenix.

Ricci Rivero led Phoenix with 17 points, and Justin Chua scored eight of his 12 points in the fourth quarter alone. Rookie Will Gozum split a pair of free throws to give Phoenix an 80-79 edge late in the game.

Lassiter answered with five straight points, including his final three-pointer of the night, to put San Miguel ahead for good, 84-80. Rivero buried a three inside the final two minutes to cut the deficit to 90-89.

Tautuaa responded with a basket from beyond the arc to keep Phoenix at bay and seal the win. The Fuel Masters played the game without import BJ Johnson and veteran big man Jason Perkins, who wore a foot immobilizer in street clothes.

The matchup was the second of a five-game PBA On Tour calendar during the offseason. Blackwater opened the slate with a 109-107 win over NLEX in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, last Wednesday.

The tour continues Sunday in Santiago City, also in Isabela, with Meralco taking on Converge in the next matchup. Three more games remain on the five-game offseason calendar after that contest.