Chris Banchero of SMB missed his second straight game due to an injury. The Beermen are now 1-1 sans the Fil-Am point guard after beating the Philippine Patriots Saturday night.
MANILA, Philippines – Dalron Johnson had a hard time controlling his temper, but he was in perfect command of his game Saturday night.
Johnson scored eight of his 23 points in the fourth quarter to lead the San Miguel Beermen (SMB) to a 78-70 victory over the AirAsia Philippine Patriots last night in the Asean Basketball League at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City.
Openly showing his frustration on plays and calls, Johnson made up for his outburst by adding 11 rebounds and three assists as the Beermen bounced back from a loss to the Malaysia KL Dragons last week.
“We have to work on that (Darlon’s temper), but for the meantime let us enjoy the win,” said Bobby Parks, coach of SMB who added that during his time “I didn’t have a tantrum like that.”
The many time PBA best import also downplayed the hype about his team, saying it was a balanced league and it showed when the Beermen got stung right on their very first match.
“I always thought it’s going to be tough game but hats off to the Patriots, they played very well,” said Parks of their victims who now share their 1-1 slate.
Doug Thomas and Leo Avenido had 14 points each, while Froilan Baguion, although contributing just two points, excellently ran the plays for the Beermen, who effectively muzzled Patriots imports
Anthony Johnson and Nakiea Miller.
Thomas threw down a slam, while Avenido finished a fastbreak to give San Miguel a 51-40 lead halfway through the third quarter as AirAsia fell into a slew of misses and turnovers.
But just as soon as the Beermen threatened to pull away, the Patriots responded with a six-point binge of their own, capped by Johnson’s layup for a 51-46 count.
Benedict Fernandez flung a trey to open up the payoff period with SMB holding a 63-52 lead, but the Patriots came back with eight unanswered points, four each from guards Al Vergara and Frederick Rodriguez to make it 63-60, six minutes left in the game.
But the volatile Johnson, who almost came to blows with a fouling Aldrech Ramos, responded with four straight points, while Avenido hit another three-pointer for a 70-60 lead in the last 4:26.
San Miguel, again missed the services of the injured Chris Banchero who showed up in street clothes.
Anthony Johnson paced the Patriots with 25 points.
The scores:
SAN MIGUEL 78—Johnson 23, Avenido 14, Thomas 14, Fernandez 8, Fajardo 6, Rizada 4, Dela Pena 3,
Luanzon 2, Baguion 2, Cabatu 2, Mangahas 0, Gonzales 0.
AIRASIA 70—Johnson 25, Miller 15, Vergara 13,
Rodriguez 6, Ramos 5, Fernandez 2, Ybanez 0, Raymundo 0, Juntilla 0, Larong 0.
Quarters: 21-17, 40-32, 60-50, 78-70.