Beermen get crack at top four, derail Express’ chances

MANILA, Philippines — San Miguel Beer scraped past Air21, 101-88, in a rough-and-tumble game to keep its chances of a top four finish going in the 2014 PBA Governors’ Cup Saturday night at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.

Sol Mercado, who’s been trying to find his way under the system of active consultant Todd Purves and head coach Biboy Ravanes, broke out with 16 points and four assists for the Beermen, who are just half a game out of the top four at 5-4.

Sophomore giant June Mar Fajardo, bucking a case of foul trouble, came away with 20 points and nine rebounds. The 6-foot-10 Fajardo was forced to sit on the bench after picking up his fifth foul early in the fourth quarter.

The game marked the first meeting between both teams since the Express booted out the Beermen in the quarterfinals of the Commissioner’s Cup and it did have that playoff-type physicality with a bunch of technical fouls and a flagrant foul called.

Sean Anthony returned to action for the first time since his foot injury that have sidelined him since last conference’s semifinal round but it wasn’t the kind of comeback he expected.
Anthony logged only three minutes before getting ejected for picking up two quick technical fouls early in the second quarter.

SMB pulled away from just a 75-71 lead in the fourth quarter behind the play of its backcourt Chris Ross and Mercado. Import Reggie Williams led all scorers with 27 points.

Dominique Sutton had 26 points and 16 rebounds while Asi Taulava recorded another double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds for Air21, which is now out of top four contention despite also toting a 5-4 card due to inferior quotient.

The top four teams at the end of the elimination round earn a twice-to-beat advantage heading into a best-of-three quarterfinals series.