Marcio Lassiter may have been missing all-game long but he’s still a player who cannot be left open from deep even in the slightest.

The veteran gunner was calm and collected as he sunk two booming triples to lead a late shooting display from San Miguel and take down Magnolia, 85-78, in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Sunday, Jan. 12.

Shooting a measly 5-of-26 from deep through the first 46 minutes of the game, the Beermen suddenly clicked from the outside in the waning seconds to turn back the Hotshots, and most importantly, snap a two-game slide for an even 4-4 record.

SMB, who was actually struggling with its offense in the second half, was still down by two, 76-74, entering the final two minutes before Lassiter, the leader in three-pointers made in PBA history, seemingly took off the lid on the Beermen’s basket with a huge triple.

Everything fell for the side of SMB from there as a Lassiter tap in a rebound play translated into another back-breaking triple from the veteran gunner who suddenly put SMB up ahead 80-76 with 51 seconds to go. 

As if that was not enough, CJ Perez also joined the three-point party and drilled in a dagger triple in the face of Mark Barroca to put the game to rest with 25 seconds left.

Lassiter, prior to the late explosion, only had two points and went on to finish with eight to help preserve a stellar showing from Perez, who had 23 points and 10 assists on top of six rebounds and four steals.

Import Jabari Narcis had 18 points and 23 rebounds laced with two blocks and two steals while Fajardo added 13 points, 14 rebounds and six assists. 

Juami Tiongson and Jericho Cruz added 13 and 10 points, respectively, for the Beermen as they finally broke out of their slump after back-to-back losses to Eastern and Barangay Ginebra in the PBA and the continuous dry spell in the EASL.

Ricardo Ratliffe had 24 points and 15 rebounds in a losing effort as he carried Magnolia to a huge third quarter storm that allowed the Hotshots to erase a 13-point first half deficit

Magnolia even took the lead and was seemingly in full control in the final frame before Lassiter change took over for the Beermen. No other player scored in double-figures for Magnolia which slid further down the standings at the 11th spot with a 3-6 record.