MANILA — It was a bittersweet feeling for San Miguel's Marcio Lassiter after he exploded for 27 points in the Beermen's tough loss to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on Wednesday.
Lassiter spearheaded a late San Miguel rally after the team trailed Rain or Shine by as much as 25 points.
The veteran guard buried his seventh triple with 1:07 remaining to pull the Beermen within four, 116-112, capping off a 17-point outburst in the final period alone.
However, Lassiter's huge scoring night went to waste as the Elasto Painters held on to remain undefeated in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner's Cup.
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Lassiter finished with a game-high 27 points spiked by seven three-pointers — his highest scoring output in the last six seasons.
"I wish we won. I feel good, but it doesn't really feel that good that we lost. I'm always about [the] team, about winning. And if I can contribute to a winning effort, it's always good," Lassiter told reporters after the game.
"Coming in today, I wasn't going to — I didn't tell myself I'm just going to shoot all the threes. But it's really just the defense," he added.
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When asked about his 17-point barrage in the fourth quarter, the 12-time PBA champion said he always stays prepared to provide the offensive spark for the Beermen.
"I just knew if I could get one, maybe another one can go after that. I was just trying to be aggressive and just looking for shots or looking for teammates," Lassiter said.
"So long as I'm just out there trying to take good shots, I know that I'm capable of making them. Tonight was one of those nights that if I get a good look, I can make it."
For the San Miguel veteran, winning games and championships remains the priority over personal accolades.
"I just know the results usually show when we win games, and that [scoring] doesn't really mean a lot to me. If we won, it would mean a lot. But I just hope that, you know, we get a little rhythm, play a little bit better," he shared.
With the loss, the Beermen slide to a 3-3 record in the mid-season conference.
San Miguel will aim to bounce back against the Magnolia Hotshots on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.