San Miguel Beermen Basketball Games Updates

Photo Credit: PBA.ph

Being in the wildcard phase seems to be a blessing in disguise for the San Miguel Beermen as they got back their confidence and their winning ways as they demolish the listless Air21 Express, 105-86 in today’s wildcard knockout game.

Playing a game before the quarterfinals and winning it definitely gave the San Miguel Beermen a big boost before they face the possibly rusty Barangay Ginebra Kings next in the quarterfinals round starting on Wednesday.

Rookie Bonbon Custodio shined the brightest among all the Beermen as he stepped up in the abscense of point guard Jonas Villanueva by playing the point well. He finished the game with 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists, a rebound short for a double-double performance.

Danny Seigle also showed that he is totally back from sick bay by providing 16 big points, hustling for rebounds, and do what he does best – to wrect havoc on offense. Marc Pingris also played providing the needed defense and rebounding for the team. Aside from Mike Cortez, Danny Ildefonso will be able to play soon if the San Miguel Beermen continues its streak all the way to the semifinals.

Here’s a complete game story as reported by the Philippine Basketball Association(pba.ph).

SMB SUBDUES AIR21, BOOKS QF SEAT
Beermen to face Kings in best-of-3 series
Sunday, 04 January 2009

San Miguel Beer survived its wildcard journey and, with the relief, is starting from scratch versus Barangay Ginebra in the quarterfinal round.

The Beermen outclassed the Air21 Express practically on all fronts, pulling off a 105-86 rout to gain entry into the KFC PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals at the Araneta Coliseum Sunday night.Picking up from where they left off in their game against the Coca-Cola Tigers last Dec. 28. The Beermen made it 3-0 over the Express in their head-on duels in the conference.

It’s Sta. Lucia versus Rain or Shine at 5 p.m. and San Miguel against Ginebra at 7:30 p.m. at the start of the best-of-three quarterfinals showdowns Wednesday in the same venue.

“Great players make great plays. Yung mga players ko ang nagpadali ng panalo namin,” said San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen on their conquest of the Express. Air21 became the fourth team booted out in the all-Filipino tourney after Red Bull, Purefoods and Coca-Cola. The Express are coming back in the Fiesta Conference playing under the Burger King banner.

Lordy Tugade, Dondon Hontiveros, Bonbon Custodio, Danny Seigle and Dorian Pena all scored in double figures as the Beermen eased out the Express with a torrid shooting.

“I know we’re not expected to be here (wildcard round). But there’s reason for everything and I think God has reason in bringing us here. Going into the quarters, we’ll be a better team after going through the wildcard. We’ll be more confident,” said Tanquingcen.”

“Ginebra’s a tough team whether Mark (Caguioa) is there or not. But I’m not taking anything away from my team. We’re coming out and making the best we can,” Tanquingcen added.

Tugade and Hontiveros rifled in 18 points each, Bonbon Custodio and Danny Seigle fired 16 apiece while Pena added 12 as the Beermen easily negated Gary David’s 31-point explosion. Arwind Santos and Don Allado were the two other Express who put in double-digit outputs with the former making 20 and the latter 12.

With an impeccable game, the Beermen established control in the second quarter and kept the Express at bay the rest of the way. Seigle had been hot, having made 10 points when hit by Santos’ wayward elbow opening a one-inch wide cut on his right cheekbone midway through the second period.

The two teams figured in a highly physical contest from the onset with Wynne Arboleda being called an offensive infraction for swinging the ball hard on defender Tugade late in the first half. Tugade took over from Seigle in the second period, knocking in a triple, a twinner and three charities to help the Beermen get a 48-41 spread at the half.

Custodio, Pena, Hontiveros and Olsen Racela also had significant numbers as the Beermen seized control after engaging the Express in two deadlocks and eight lead changes.

David made 17 points, three rebounds and two assists in the first 24 minutes of play for the Express. (NC)

The scores:

San Miguel 105 – Tugade 18, Hontiveros 18, Custodio 16, Seigle 16, Pena 12, Washington 9, Racela 5, Pingris 4, Pennisi 4, Calaguio 3, Baguion 0.

Air21 86 – David 31, Santos 20, Allado 12, Arboleda 7, Baguio 5, Quinahan 4, Cruz 3, Kramer 2, Billones 2, Intal 0, Canaleta 0, Cruz 0.Quarterscores: 25-23, 48-41, 75-64, 105-86

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