Beermen snap Energy streak; Aces triumph

RICO Maierhoffer of Barako Bull finds good use for his shoe, using it to thwart an attempt by San Miguel Beer’s Gabby Espinas. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

San Miguel Beer sustained its rise from the depths and brought down the last unbeaten team in the PBA Governors’ Cup Wednesday night after getting six players in twin digits in a 116-113 decision of Barako Bull at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

June Mar Fajardo and Arizona Reid scored 22 points each and Ronald Tubid shone in the fourth period for the Beermen, who won a fourth straight game while halting the Energy’s four-game winning streak.

“We knew right from the start that this would be a tough game for us,” San Miguel coach Leo Austria said moments after the Beermen rose to 4-2.

“Barako Bull had nothing to lose and everything to gain,” he continued. “They are very confident because of their import.”

Liam McMorrow, Barako Bull’s beefy 7-foot-2 reinforcement, finished with 31 points and 25 rebounds—numbers which he could have padded if not for what seemed like a prolonged rest in the latter half of the third quarter.

Alaska, meanwhile, grabbed a piece of the lead with Barako Bull at 4-1 later in the night after tripping defending champion Star, 92-86.

Romeo Travis scored 27 points, had 14 rebounds and seven assists for the Aces, who dealt former coach Tim Cone a fourth straight defeat in a 1-4 card, the longest slide for the franchise ever since the two-time Grand Slam-winning coach took over.

McMorrow sat it out for close to four minutes in the third and the Beermen quickly got back from a 75-66 deficit to take an 87-86 lead into the fourth period that paved the way for a dogfight in the stretch.

Tubid knocked down his third triple with 6:14 to go which ushered the Beermen to a 105-99 lead, but Barako Bull came back to move out front for the last time at 111-110 with 51.3 ticks left after a JC Intal triple.

Reid, a former Best Import winner who was sick in the first two San Miguel losses, shoved the Beermen ahead for good with a jumper with 30.8 to go.

Rico Maierhofer provided some comic relief in the second period when, after losing his shoe in one play, used it to try block a shot by Gabby Espinas. According to the league, there is no clear cut rule calling for a violation in using a foreign object in blocking a shot.

THE SCORES:

First Game

SAN MIGUEL BEER 116—Fajardo 22, Reid 22, Lassiter 18, Tubid 13, Ross 12, Cabagnot 11, Espinas 8, Reyes 4, Lutz 2, Omolon 2, Santos 2.

BARAKO BULL 113—McMorrow 31, Yeo 25, Intal 14, Lanete 12, Maierhofer 10, Pascual 8, Garcia 6, Wilson 3, Lastimosa 2, Chua 2, Ababou 0.

Quarters: 30-33, 55-59, 87-86, 116-113

Second Game

ALASKA 92—Travis 27, Manuel 10, Baguio 9, Banchero 6, Thoss 6, Dela Rosa 6, Menk 6, Jazul 6, Exciminiano 5, Abueva 4, Casio 4, Hontiveros 3.

STAR 86—Blakely 22, Barroca 17, Yap 9, Pingris 8, Devance 8, Mallari 6, Maliksi 6, Reavis 4, Simon 4, Melton 2.

Quarters: 21-27, 44-44, 68-68, 92-86