Champion import Bennie Boatwright had a triumphant return to the PBA, leading the San Miguel Beermen to a pulsating 98-94 victory over the NLEX Road Warriors on Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. With the win, San Miguel evened its record to 4-4, while dropping NLEX to 6-2.
What Happened?
NLEX got off to a roaring start, winning the first, 35-25, behind a combined 27 points from Cady Lalanne and Schonny Winston, who went 12-for-13 from the field in the opening frame. San Miguel, though, clamped down on the Road Warriors, limiting them to just 17 in the second canto while scoring 25 of its own, 17 of which came from Boatwright and Jericho Cruz.
The Beermen continued clamping down on NLEX after halftime, holding the Road Warriors to 16 in the third while scoring 27 more to take a 77-68 cushion into the fourth. But the Road Warriors, as they did against the Meralco Bolts, rallied in the final frame and even moved ahead, 94-92, with a minute left on a Lalanne triple. Boatwright tied things up with two freebies and then got the lead back for San Miguel with a dunk after a scramble.
Who Stood Out?
Boatwright was sensational in his return to the PBA, tallying 41 big points, including four of San Miguel’s final six points. He also had three four-pointers, including back-to-back in the third that helped the Beermen establish a double-digit advantage.
Lalanne, on the other hand, matched Boatwright pretty much point for point, finishing with 35 points on 14-for-20 shooting overall, to go along with his 12 boards. Schonny Winston, meanwhile, continued his strong play for NLEX as he added 20 markers.
3 Keys to the Game
- Bennie Boatwright. The last import that led San Miguel to a title in an import-laced conference picked up from where he left off and carried the scoring load. He kept the Beermen in the game amid NLEX’s torrid start, got them a double-digit lead in the third, and capped off the game in the end.
- Paint scoring. While Boatwright did much of his damage on jumpers, he still got to the paint every now and then to help power San Miguel’s interior scoring. The Beermen scored 40 in the paint in total, while NLEX had only 26.
- Endgame poise. Both teams played superbly down the stretch, but San Miguel was just a little more composed and executed better.
Next Up for the PBA
Tuesday, April 21, 2026 | Ninoy Aquino Stadium
Titan Ultra Giant Risers vs. Macau Black Knights (5:15 p.m.)
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters vs. Phoenix Fuel Masters (7:30 p.m.)
