WATCH: Don Trollano Highlights [San Miguel vs Terrafirma | Jan. 7, 2024]

Bennie Boatwright Jr.’s stellar 51-point, 12-rebound performance fueled San Miguel’s 132-110 win over Terrafirma, Sunday in the elimination round of the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The victory placed the Beermen in a strong position to clinch a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinal round of the season-opening conference.

“I was just trying to stay in the zone, stay present, and not think about the future. Play by play, possession by possession,” said the 6-foot-10 former USC Trojan.

Boatwright deflected the credit to his teammates, stating that they played a key role in his achievement of reaching the 50-point milestone.

“I just give all the credit to my coaches and my teammates who were looking for me today,” said Boatwright after becoming the first SMB player to drop 50 since Shabazz Muhammad.

As per PBA head statistician Fidel Mangonon III, Muhammad scored 57 points in San Miguel’s 115-110 win over Meralco during the 2021-2022 Governors’ Cup.

This, however, is not the only record Boatwright aims to set with the Beermen.

“I’m very excited. I’ve been hearing all about the tradition. This team has a lot of accolades and I’m very excited to be a part of it and make a run in the playoffs,” he said.