Back in the groove
MANILA, Philippines—Unrelenting even after a fiery start, San Miguel Beer blasted Alaska, 96-80, Wednesday night to climb back into contention in the PBA Fiesta Conference finals at the Araneta Coliseum.
San Miguel import Gabe Freeman scattered 24 points and pulled down 20 rebounds while Jay Washington added 23 points and 10 boards as the Beermen cut the Aces’ lead in the series to 2-1.
“I kept the players positive at the same time reminding them what got us here and our identity which is our defense,” said San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen, whose boys led by as many as 24 points.
“Defense got us here and that was the focal point for us today.”
Treating the game like a no-tomorrow affair, the Beermen ripped the game wide open in the second quarter, scoring 17 unanswered points, mostly off silly turnovers from the Aces, before icing the win behind Washington’s solid play in the fourth period.
“We just came out with a lot of energy tonight and we treated this like a do-or-die game for us,” Washington said.
Freeman scored 14 of his output in that bristling second-quarter attack that also saw the Aces commit 12 of their 23 turnovers for the game.
Washington responded with clutch baskets when Alaska came within 62-75 with 8:51 left, sinking a couple of free throws and a triple to douse the Aces’ comeback bid.
The Beermen, who outrebounded the Aces, 49-29, cruised from there as Olsen Racela, marking the 900th game of his 17-year career, got in on the scoring act, finishing with nine points, all from beyond the arc.
“They simply overwhelmed us with their formidable talent,” said Alaska coach Tim Cone, who expressed surprise at how effective the defensive patterns of San Miguel turned out in Game 3.
“It’s an achievement to have played 900 games because the only players who have done that are my idols. I grew up watching Toyota and Crispa games, so I am very honored to be placed in that group,” Racela told INQUIRER.net.
The Beermen clogged the lane and Alaska import Diamon Simpson struggled with just 16 points. He also accounted for seven turnovers. Playing a day after he was discharged from the hospital because of diarrhea, LA Tenorio had seven points and four turnovers. But Tanquingcen refused to get carried away by the convincing win. “It’s good that we won this way but we still trail the series,” he said. The scores: SAN MIGUEL BEER 96—Freeman 24, Washington 23, Santos 18, Ildefonso 10, Racela 9, Miranda 4, Yeo 3,Hontiveros 3, Cabagnot 2, Pennisi 0, Villanueva 0, Peña 0. ALASKA 80—Simpson 16, De Vance 12, Baguio 11, Fonacier 8, Thoss 8, Tenorio 7, Dela Cruz 6, Eman 5, Cariaso 4, Hugnatan 3, Borboran 0. Quarters: 22-18, 49-30, 71-54, 96-80
The Beermen clogged the lane and Alaska import Diamon Simpson struggled with just 16 points. He also accounted for seven turnovers. Playing a day after he was discharged from the hospital because of diarrhea, LA Tenorio had seven points and four turnovers. But Tanquingcen refused to get carried away by the convincing win. “It’s good that we won this way but we still trail the series,” he said. The scores: SAN MIGUEL BEER 96—Freeman 24, Washington 23, Santos 18, Ildefonso 10, Racela 9, Miranda 4, Yeo 3,Hontiveros 3, Cabagnot 2, Pennisi 0, Villanueva 0, Peña 0. ALASKA 80—Simpson 16, De Vance 12, Baguio 11, Fonacier 8, Thoss 8, Tenorio 7, Dela Cruz 6, Eman 5, Cariaso 4, Hugnatan 3, Borboran 0. Quarters: 22-18, 49-30, 71-54, 96-80
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