INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines—Nearly flawless in the fourth quarter, San Miguel Beer survived its second knockout encounter to advance to the quarterfinals of the PBA-KFC Philippine Cup against a team that its coach said has fooled the field all throughout the tournament.

The Beermen’s defense muffled Air21’s guns all night, resulting in a 105-86 victory over the Express that shoved San Miguel Beer into a best-of-three series against Barangay Ginebra starting Wednesday, also at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

“This (wild-card stint) has made us a better team,” San Miguel Beer coach Siot Tanquingcen told reporters later. “Somehow, it toughened us up. I haven’t really thought that far (series against Ginebra).

“But don’t let coach Jong (Uichico of Ginebra) fool you, they’re a tough team even without some of his players,” he continued. “Malakas sila (they are still strong) and we have to make sure that we come out and play as hard as we could.”

Tanquingcen paraded a complete lineup for the first time in the season and five Beermen scored 12 points or more.

Lordy Tugade and Dondon Hontiveros topscored with 18 each, and Danny Seigle and rookie Bonbon Custodio added 16 apiece for the Beermen, who didn’t disappoint San Miguel Corp. chair Eduardo “Danding” Cojuanco in the gallery.

The Beermen hit three of four tries from beyond the arc and 10 of 16 from the field in the fourth in a swashbuckling effort that doused cold water on a series of Express rallies.

The Beermen were up by only nine after three periods but their 59 percent shooting in the last 12 minutes, aided by Air21’s pathetic 27.9, did the Express in and ended their season.

Gary David led Air21 with 31 points and Arwind Santos finished with 20, but the others who were expected to contribute were silenced. Wynne Arboleda hit just seven and Cyrus Baguio was good for just five.

Seigle, just in his third game after a long layoff due to a back injury, had to sit out the final 4:41 of the second period and the early part of the third after suffering a busted right cheekbone courtesy of a wayward Arwind Santos elbow.

The rugged play came after Seigle had given the Beermen a 41-31 lead with a three-point play off Santos.

The technical foul slapped on the Air21 swingman for a second motion gave San Miguel Beer a 42-31 lead.

When the Express threatened for the last time at 55-53, three-point baskets by Mick Pennisi and Hontiveros quickly pulled the Beermen out of trouble.

The winner of the San Miguel-Ginebra duel will face Talk ‘N Text in the semifinals.

The Final Four, where Alaska and the Tropang Texters qualified outright after finishing 1-2, respectively, in the eliminations, will be best-of-seven affairs.

The Aces await the winner of the Rain or Shine-Sta. Lucia Realty series.

The scores:

SAN MIGUEL BEER 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.

Quarters: 25-23, 48-41, 75-64, 105-86