Beermen tap seven-footer Patton versus win-less guest team Macau

Games on Tuesday
(Ninoy Aquino Stadium)
5:15 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Blackwater
7:30 p.m. – San Miguel vs Macau

AFTER its 26-point beatdown from Bol Bol-led TNT, San Miguel Beermen (SMB) decided to bring a seven-footer and NBA-caliber import for itself moving forward.

The Beermen tapped Justin Patton, a 7-foot-1 center and 2017 NBA Draft first-round selection with stints with Minnesota, Philadelphia, Oklahoma City and Houston, to take over from Marcus Lee in the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Mr. Patton was activated in time for the Beermen’s Holy Tuesday duel with winless guest team Macau at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

With the 6-foot-11 Mr. Lee in tow, the reigning Philippine Cup kingpin limped to a woeful 1-2 start. Following a meager four-point output on SMB’s 112-119 loss to Titan and 10 in the 103-99 bounceback win over Converge, Mr. Lee turned in a 30-14 game against Mr. Bol but the squad badly lost, 92-118, prompting the switch.

The 28-year-old Mr. Patton makes his PBA debut against the Black Knights (0-4) at 7:30 p.m., looking to give the Beermen the W before the league goes on a Lenten break.

Meanwhile, Rain or Shine (ROS) (3-0) is determine on keeping its spotless mark and solo leader status as it battles upset-conscious Blackwater (1-2) in the 5:15 p.m. curtain raiser.

The Elasto Painters have overcome tremendous adversities on their way to the summit, especially in hard-earned wins against TNT and Meralco.

Import Jaylen Johnson was thrown out for fighting in the last six minutes against the Tropang 5G but Yeng Guiao’s gritty charges still pulled through, 112-109. Then with Mr. Johnson serving his one-game suspension against the full-powered Bolts, the E-Painters rose to the challenge and prevailed, 109-102.

Mr. Johnson returns to active duty on Tuesday, plugging a big hole in the ROS arsenal as it braces for Robert Upshaw, the 7-foot Bossing import whose 35-14 game last time around helped them post a 97-91 stunner over Magnolia. — Olmin Leyba