San Miguel Beermen Basketball Games Updates

Photo Credit: PBA.ph

In a basketball game dominated by the San Miguel Beermen most of the time, it’s quite sad to yield the win and the championship to a surprise team in Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants who were not supposedly to play in the finals.

The good thing is, it is just a pre-season game. Observers who watched the game saw that coach Siot Tanquincen experimented with his lineup in the forth quarter to see who are going to step up aside from Danny Seigle. Too bad no one did.

Probably the best thing that SMB gained from this experience is for them to know what they lack in that loss and make the necessary adjustments before their first game against Alaska on Sunday.

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SURPRISE FINALIST PUREFOODS KEEPS PRE-SEASON TROPHY
Steady finish gives Giants win over SMB and 2nd Pre-Season title in a row

Source: Philippine Basketball Association (PBA.ph)
Monday September 29, 2008

Rico Villanueva scored 22 points and Roger Yap made a key steal in the closing seconds as the Purefoods TJ Giants held off the San Miguel Beermen in an exciting finish, 85-82, Sunday to repeat as champions in the PBA Pre-Season Tournament at the newly built Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

After playing catch-up for three quarters, the Giants turned the basketball game around with a big fourth quarter largely on the power plays of Villanueva and Kerby Raymundo and the clutch hits of James Yap, back in the lineup after missing two basketball games with a sprained ankle.

In a game that featured two basketball teams with equal strength and bench depth, the Giants capitalized on terrific anticipation, excellent defense and constant hustle.

The Giants trailed 61-71 at the end of the third but opened the final period with a 10-to-nothing run and tied the count on a hard drive by James Yap four minutes into the fourth.

A 3-pointer by James Yap, cheered on by wife actress-TV host Kris Aquino from the stands, with 3:21 remaining gave Purefoods a 78-76 lead.

Raymundo finished with 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists while James Yap added 16.

“The guys played inspired basketball. We started poorly but we kept our patience and regrouped. And once we found our rhythm we made at a run at it (championship),” said Purefoods basketball coach Ryan Gregorio.

“This is unbelievable. We’re supposed to be resting today but for some reasons we found ourselves playing in the finals and the next thing we knew we’re champs again. This may just be a tune-up basketball tournament but we felt great with what we have accomplished. Hopefully our campaign this season will have the same ending.”

Alaska (3-0) and Rain or Shine (2-1) passed up their rights to play in the championship game in favor of team-building sessions that were booked coinciding with the championship.

The Beermen opened a 14-3 lead three minutes into the basketball game on a 3-point shot by Mick Pennisi and appeared to have the game well under control with Dorian Pena (13 points), Mark Pingris (8 points) and Pennisi asserting their size in the paint.

But the Beermen lost their edge in the second half largely because their shooting went sour.

A three-point play and a transition basket by Raymundo gave Purefoods an 83-82 lead with 89 seconds left.

The two teams then traded miscues and missed shots before Pingris deflected a shot by Roger Yap enabling the Beermen to go for the winning play.

But SMB couldn’t execute well. Mike Cortez fed Washington what appeared to be a soft pass that was intercepted by Roger Yap that paved the way for James Yap to close scoring with two free throws. (DBC)

The scores:

Purefoods 85 – Villanueva 22, Raymundo 19, J. Yap 16, Lanete 7, Simon 6, R. Yap 5, Alonzo 4, Belga 4, Aban 2, Robinson 0, Salvador 0, Bugia 0.

SMB 82 – Seigle 14, Pena 13, Custodio 9, Pingris 8, Washington 6, Pennisi 6, Bono 6, Hontiveros 5, Racela 4, Cortez 4, Gonzales 4, Calaguio 3, Tugade 0.

Quarterscores: 14-22; 37-45; 61-71; 85-82.

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