Beermen rip Smithless Texters
Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 4:30 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs GlobalPort 7 p.m. – Magnolia vs Alaska
San Miguel Beer stared at a 23-point deficit for two quarters before its big men turned the game around as Josh Smith exited on fouls, and the Beeernen went on to carve out a 121-110 victory over TNT KaTropa in the opener of their PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-five quarterfinal showdown at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.
The TNT team, however, cried foul over the officiating and hinted at placing the result of the game under protest.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said the Texters have until 12 noon today to formalize their protest with the corresponding P20,000 bond.
Renaldo Balkman and June Mar Fajardo made a killing underneath the basket with Smith already on the bench, starring in a vicious 18-4 closing run the Beermen unleashed to salvage the game the Texters dominated in the first three quarters.
“That game was scary. We didn’t think we would be able to recover from a big deficit,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.
“They were very sharp with their shooting. Kelly Williams was making important shots. But I have to give credit to my players; they didn’t give up. They were saying we just have to cut it down to 14 at the half and to single digit by the fourth quarter and we would have our chance. They’re an experienced team; they really know how to win,” Austria added.
Barangay Ginebra stretched its hot streak at the close of the elims to the opener of the playoffs, topping Meralco, 88-81, in Game One of their own quarters series later in the night.
Joe Devance, LA Tenorio and Justin Brownlee hit clutch baskets as the Gin Kings made it six in a row in an amazing romp after a 1-5 start. The scores: First game San Miguel 121 – Balkman 36, Fajardo 27, Lassiter 26, Santos 10, Ross 9, Cabagnot 6, Rosser 4, Nabong 3, Heruela 0, Vigil 0.
TNT 110 – Smith 17, Pogoy 17, Williams 16, Romeo 13, Semerad 11, Castro 10, Trollano 10, Rosario 9, Cruz 5, Taha 2, Garcia 0, Paredes 0, Golla 0, Carey 0, Reyes 0, Tamsi 0. Quarterscores: 21-40, 48-62, 86-88, 121-110 Second Game Ginebra 88 – Brownlee 25, Devance 14, Slaughter 13, Aguilar 10, Mercado 8, Chan 8, Ferrer 6, Tenorio 4, Thompson 0.
Meralco 81 – Amer 15, Dillinger 13, Onuaku 12, Caram 11, De Ocampo 9, Lanete 8, Hodge 6, Canaleta 5, Newsome 2, Hugnatan 0.
Quarterscores: 22-20, 38-45, 67-62, 88-81