by Jonas Terrado
The health status of shooter Marcio Lassiter could play a crucial role in San Miguel Beer’s quest to win a fifth straight PBA Philippine Cup crown.
Lassiter played a total of 12 minutes in the final two games of the Beermen’s 4-1 semifinal conquest of the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters after missing Game 3 due to back spasms.
The member of last season’s Mythical Five remains a question mark for the opener of San Miguel’s best-of-seven showdown against either Magnolia or Rain or Shine slated Wednesday.
Matt Ganuelas-Rossser of the San Miguel Beermen (PBA Images)
Magnolia and Rain or Shine were disputing the right to face SMB at press time in the deciding seventh game of their best-of-seven semifinals at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“It’s not concerning but it’s more of just wanting to make sure that it gets 100 percent, so we’ll see,” Lassiter said. “I’m glad that we were able to win because I’ll able to get some extra time to recuperate.”
Lassiter averaged 12.8 points on 36 percent shooting in the playoffs prior to the injury. He posted 14.4 points on 44 percent clip during the eliminations.
His presence is integral in how San Miguel runs its scheme, particularly on offense where Lassiter is among coach Leo Austria’s options.
If there’s anything positive that came out in Lassiter’s injury was that Matt Ganuelas-Rosser stepped in and delivered vital contributions on both ends.
Ganuelas-Rosser was inserted as starter in Games 4 and 5 and produced 6.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 3.0 steals while limiting Phoenix scorer Matthew Wright to a combined 9-of-36 shooting.
The 28-year-old played a total of 79 minutes in nine combined games of the eliminations and playoffs before Lassiter went down.
Von Pessumal also came in with timely offense in the two games with a total of 18 points on 6-of-10 from the field.
“I feel like it’s bittersweet because it’s great to see Matt, Von and other guys who don’t necessarily play a lot stepping up and at the same time be on the other side cheering for them,” said Lassiter.