Christian Standhardinger vs Japeth Aguilar. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Using a 22-point lead as buffer to ride out a furious finish by the enemy on Sunday night, San Miguel Beer scored a 99-91 victory over Barangay Ginebra that put the Beermen back on track in the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Beermen answered the second half buzzer with all guns cocked and firing, taking complete control after hitting baskets from inside and out before a momentary loss of focus allowed the Gin Kings to come within
five points heading into the final 1:30.
It was a great way for San Miguel to bounce back after taking a shock loss to Columbian last week, and the sharpness that the Beermen played with for at least 90% of the way clearly reestablished them as–as what has been the case for several years now–the team to beat in the season’s most prestigious conference.
San Miguel is seeking to win this conference for the fifth straight year, and in the pre-season was ballyhooed to run away with it after acquiring Terrence Romeo in a blockbuster trade from TNT KaTropa.
But after that unexpected loss to the Dyip with Romeo playing, it certainly didn’t pass as a good start for the Beermen, until they came out against the Kings–with Romeo in civilian clothes because of an injury–to change all that.
The scores:
San Miguel 99 – Standhardinger 26, Ross 22, Lassiter 16, Pessumal 13, Fajardo 10, Santos 6, Nabong 6, Tubid 0, Zamar 0.
Ginebra 91 – Tenorio 24, Aguilar 20, Slaughter 11, Thompson 9, Devance 6, Teodoro 6, Dela Cruz 4, Ferrer 4, Caguioa 3, Mariano 2, Mercado 2.
Quarters: 20-17, 44-35, 78-57, 99-91.