INQUIRER Sports

GAMES TODAY (Araneta Coliseum)
4 p.m.—Purefoods vs Talk ‘N Text
6:30 p.m.—Rain or Shine vs Barangay Ginebra

VICTORIAS CITY, Philippines—With practically its entire offensive armada clicking, powerhouse San Miguel Beer Saturday night mowed down Sta. Lucia Realty, 88-69, for its fourth straight win in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup elimination round at the Victorias City Sports Center here.

The Beermen scored 24 points in each of the first three periods, their first half total just two shy of the entire Sta. Lucia effort for 36 minutes, as they won convincingly over a squad that prides itself in playing hard-nosed defense.

Arwind Santos already had 16 points in the first three periods alone, going on to lead San Miguel to a 4-2 slate while dealing the Realtors their third loss against as many victories in the road game presented by Phoenix Fuel.

Santos finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds and the San Miguel defense bottled up former MVP Kelly Williams to just six points in the first three periods. Gabby Espinas led the Realtors with 17, 13 of them coming in the third period.

Meanwhile, elimination round action returns to the storied Big Dome in Cubao Sunday with Barangay Ginebra, despite being short on point guards, clashing with Rain or Shine to stay in solo second spot.

Jay-Jay Helterbrand is expected to be out for at least this game and so is the returning Johnny Abarrientos when the Gin Kings slug it out with the Elasto Painters at 6:30 p.m.

Helterbrand, the reigning MVP, and Abarrientos, also a former MVP, are nursing different injuries, which is probably what Rain or Shine needs to finally catch a break.

The Painters are the only winless team left in the field and even if the Kings play with just one point guard in Celino Cruz, Ginebra could still prove to be a tough first win for them the way they have been playing of late.

In the first game, Talk ‘N Text and Purefoods collide in a battle of squads tagged as favorites in the preseason with the Tropang Texters, the defending champions here, hoping to bounce back from their first loss of the season.

Game time is 4 p.m. shortly after the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines presents Asian Indoor Games boxing gold medalist Annie Albania, silver medalist Michele Martinez and bronze medalist Josie Gabuco to league fans.

Abarrientos was plucked out of the reserved list to spell Helterbrand, only to suffer a freak cut in the left hand while going for a steal in a convincing victory over Barako Bull Friday.

Helterbrand has a strained knee while the Kings are also missing gunslinger Mark Caguioa.

The scores:

SAN MIGUEL 88—Santos 21, Pena 14, Hontiveros 13, Tugade 10, Miranda 10, Villanueva 7, Custodio 6, Cortez 4, Pennisi 3, Eman 0, Racela 0, Calaguio 0.

STA. LUCIA 69—Espinas 17, Yeo 16, Williams 11, Omolon 8, Reyes 6, Urbiztondo 4, Aquino 4, Daa 3, Misolas 0, Jaime 0, Larong 0.

Quarters: 24-17, 48-28, 72-50, 88-69.