FIERY BEERMEN NOTCH WIN NO. 5
Cool Smashers get back at HD Spikers
Games today (MOA Arena) 3 p.m. – Magnolia vs Phoenix 5:45 p.m. – Ginebra vs NorthPort
There’s still no stopping San Miguel Beer’s blitz in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
Drawing a 28-point, 12-rebound outing from Cameron Clark, the Beermen beat their fifth straight victim,
Meralco, 94-86, to stay alone
at the top last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Clark shot six in the
fourth quarter and took
over the mop-up after SMB
saw its 10-point cut to four by the rallying Bolts.
CJ Perez, with 19 markers, including six in the payoff period, Jericho Cruz, with 13, and June Mar Fajardo, with 11 and 14, did their share as the Beermen continued their strong start.
“It’s all the work of the players. They’re really doing a good job offensively and defensively,” said SMB coach Jorge Gallent, whose wards moved three wins ahead of second-running Ginebra (2-0). The Bolts dropped to 3-2. Earlier, Jordan Williams torched the hoops with a conference-high 57 points to power Terrafirma to a 119-106 victory over Blackwater.
Williams dropped 22 in the fourth quarter and presided over a 15-5 closing barrage to seal the Dyip’s second win in four starts.
The Terrafirma reinforcement, who broke the conference high of 56 set by TNT’s Jalen Hudson barely 24 hours before, outdueled debuting Blackwater counterpart Troy Williams in a fiery shoothout.
The Bossing’s new guy rifled in 55 in the game marred by a 20-minute delay due to circuit trip amid a fire at the nearby bus station. But he failed to prevent the Bossing (1-4) from skidding to their third straight loss.
“My teammates and my coach gave me confidence. They trusted me to be the leader and take over when it’s time to finish the game so shout out to them for trusting and believing in me,” Jordan Williams.
The Dyip reached two victories for the first time this season after a 0-11 campaign in the Philippine Cup and 1-11 in the Commissioner’s Cup.
“It’s our first time to have two wins after the (2020 Clark) bubble. Hopefully we can build on this as we play Meralco next game,” said coach John Cardel. The scores: First Game Terrafirma 119 – J.Williams 57, Tiongson 27, Camson 17, Gomez de Liano 5, Cabagnot 5, Cahilig 3, Daquioag 2, Calvo 2, Gabayni 1, Alolino 0, Ramos 0.
Blackwater 106 – T.Williams 55, Casio 14, Ilagan 11, Ular 10, Banal 5, Torralba 5, Rosario 2, Sena 2, Hill 2, McCarthy 0, Amer 0, DiGregorio 0, Taha 0. Quartercores: 30-14, 53-46, 80-72, 119-106 Second Game San Miguel 94 – Clark 28, Perez 19, Cruz 13, Fajardo 11, Enciso 8, Lassiter 7, Bulanadi 6, Ross 2, Tautuaa 0.
Meralco 86 – Newsome 18, McDaniels 18, Maliksi 16, Banchero 7, Pasaol 5, Black 5, Hodge 4, Caram 3, Quinto 3, Almazan 3, Pascual 2, Jose 2.
Quarterscores: 18-14, 44-33, 69-63, 94-86
Games tomorrow (PhilSports Arena) 4 p.m. – Chery Tiggo vs Army Black Mamba
6 p.m. – Akari vs F2 Logistics Creamline is on a revenge tour. Denied of a rare Grand Slam a season ago, the Cool Smashers are getting back at the teams that foiled their potential date with destiny as they flattened a listless Cignal squad, 25-16, 25-20, 2515, yesterday to zoom to the top in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Filoil EcoOil Center.
Michele Gumabao blasted away a match-best 14 points while the equally power-hitting duo of Jema Galanza and Tots Carlos uncorked 13 hits apiece to power the Cool Smashers to their second straight win. Cignal fell to 0-2. The win was a sweet one for the Cool Smashers at the expense of the HD Spikers, one of the teams that bumped the Jonathan Ng-owned franchise out of the Reinforced Conference finals and denied them a crack at a historic Grand Slam.
Cignal ended up runner-up in that same conference behind eventual champion Petro Gazz while Creamline, which won the Open and Invitational Conferences early that year, wound up at No. 3.
Interestingly, Creamline treated Petro Gazz a dish best served cold – vengeance – with a merciless 25-18, 25-20, 25-22 triumph in the season-opener at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Saturday. Payback complete. Oliver Almadro, meanwhile, got the last laugh against his former team as Petro Gazz clobbered Choco Mucho, 25-18, 25-20, 25-21.
It was a bounceback win for the Angels, who were coming off a 25-18, 25-20, 25-22 loss to Creamline on opening day.
Aiza Pontillas put up a vintage performance in the highly-anticipated match that lasted for just 98 minutes, finishing with 19 points and 14 excellent digs.