SAN MIGUEL Beer overcame a late surge by the Bangkok Cobras to prevail, 91-77, last night and keep its streak going in the Asean Basketball League at the Ynares Sports Arena.
Nick Fazekas held fort with 25 points and 15 rebounds and Chris Banchero added 22 and seven steals for the Beermen, who allowed the Cobras to close the gap, 65-64, in the fourth before pulling away to their sixth consecutive victory.
The Beermen, who hiked their leading record to 16-4, must beat the Saigon Heat in their last game to clinch the No. 1 spot in the crossover semifinals.
Gentry Lewis had 20 points and 17 rebounds for the Cobras, who lost for the seventh straight time and fell to 6-12.
Meanwhile, the AirAsia Philippine Patriots seek to fan their slim bid for the top spot when they take on the Westports Malaysia Dragons today also at the Ynares Sports Arena.
With Nakiea Miller back in the rotation, the Patriots, who checked a two-game slide with a 76-70 win over the Saigon Heat, are heavily favored over the Dragons (9-9) in their 7 p.m. duel.
The Patriots (14-4) have to beat the Dragons today and then prevail over the Singapore Slingers and Chang Thailand Slammers to keep their slim hopes of topping the eliminations.
Although they have beaten the Dragons in their two previous meetings, the Patriots have to contend against two of the league’s top scorers in imports Tiras Wade (25.06 ppg) and Brian Williams (18.85 ppg).
The scores:
SAN MIGUEL BEER 91—Fazekas 25, Banchero 22, Avenido 13, Crews 12, Yap 8, Baguion 5, Fajardo 3, Gonzales 3, Fernandez 0.
BANGKOK COBRAS 77—Lewis 20, Cruz 16, Reyes 14, Kruatiwa 11, Travis 8, Apiromvilaichai 4, Chaiwa 2, Limsuwan 2, Klahan 0.
Quarters: 18-22, 44-38, 65-60, 91-77