WATCH: Interview with Coach Leo Austria and Best Player Devon Scott [Oct. 26, 2022]

Even with Marcio Lassiter and Chris Ross joining June Mar Fajardo in sickbay, San Miguel Beer picked up from where it left off the last time out and pulled off a 104-86 rout of NorthPort in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo Wednesday night.

Devon Scott buckled down to work right away and led the Beermen to an early breakaway that they were able to sustain all throughout to score a follow-up on their 124-116 disposal of NLEX Sunday.

And with these back-to-back triumphs, the Beermen jumped notches up to joint seventh place with the NLEX Road Warriors at 3-3.

The Batang Pier, meanwhile, slid from joint seventh to ninth in a tie with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and the Blackwater Elite at 3-4.

“This game is so important for us and this win is so important because everybody’s fighting out for the Top Four, isang talo ang laki ng bagsak mo at isang panalo malaki rin ang igagalaw mo sa standings,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.

“We’re fighting for our playoff bid, and we can’t afford to lose to NorthPort,” added Austria whose troops stepped up and overcame the absence of Lassiter (health protocols) and Ross (knee) in addition to Fajardo and Terrence Romeo.

Scott, in his third game in the local pro league, was ready to take charge, doing so right in the opening quarter.