SAN MIGUEL came back strong following a disappointing semifinal opener, trouncing Sports Rev Thailand Slammers, 91-60, on Saturday in Game Two of the Asean Basketball League playoffs at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
The Beermen walloped the Slammers with a strong start and got a big boost from the locals to tie the semifinal series at one game apiece before heading to Bangkok for the next two games.
Game Three is set on Tuesday at the Nimibutr Stadium.
“After the loss, I told you that it was our attitude. It was a complete turnaround because our intensity was very high unlike in our first game,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria, pleased to see his wards bounce back after a 60-62 loss in the series opener at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Chris Banchero and Val Acuna topscored for the Beermen with 14 points each, while Jeric Fortuna added 13. Leo Avenido chipped in 12.
The ejection of import Justin Williams in the third quarter due to a second unsportsmanlike foul hardly mattered as the Beermen already had a huge lead at that point.
The victory was the third largest winning margin in ABL playoff history since the Beermen and the Philippine Patriots posted 34-point victories against the Westports Malaysia Dragons in 2012 and 2010, respectively.
The Beermen raced to a 22-13 lead at the end of the first before a 7-0 run led to a 42-24 halftime advantage. SMB led by as many as 35 points.
The Slammers didn’t have a fighting chance in Game Two as only Wutipong Dasom scored in double figures with 11 points.
Import Chris Charles only had nine points and nine rebounds while Filipino imports Tonino Gonzaga and Froilan Baguion had seven apiece. But the Thai locals were hardly a factor unlike in Game One.
The scores:
San Miguel (91) – Banchero 14, Acuna 14, Fortuna 13, Avenido 12, Taulava 9, Cawaling 7, B. Williams 7, J. Williams 7, Menk 5, Hubalde 3, Luanzon 0, Thiele 0.
Thailand (60) – Dasom 11, Charles 9, Gonzaga 7, Baguion 7, Klahan 7, Brannon 6, Apiromvilaichai 5, Kongkum 2, Lertlaokul 2, Sekteera 2, Samerjai 0.
Quarterscores: 22-13; 42-24; 60-37; 91-60.
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