Santos keys Beermen rally; Tigers rout Energy Boosters
MANILA—Arwind Santos, after almost singlehandedly rallying San Miguel back from a 21-point deficit in the third period, came up with the defensive play of the night in the endgame to lift the Beermen to a 69-68 decision of Barangay Ginebra Sunday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Big Dome.
Santos finished with 20 points—11 in the third period—and cleared 11 boards that went with the invaluable hustle of forcing Willie Miller to commit a turnover in the dying seconds that preserved the Beermen’s second win in three outings.
“I am very happy, my first game turned out to be a win,” Ato Agustin, who started calling the shots full-time for the Beermen, said in Filipino. “We were out-hustled in the first half and we didn’t have any aggressiveness in defense that’s why we trailed big early.”
Miller went on to lead the Gin Kings with 19 points but was forced by Santos to dribble off his left foot while going for the potential game-winning drive inside the final 6.5 seconds as Ginebra dropped to 1-2.
In the first game, Gary David scattered 23 points and Dennis Espino flashed his vintage best in the first half as Powerade stopped Barako Bull, 87-77.
William Antonio, a plucky shooting guard plucked out of retirement at the start of the season, contributed 14 markers and 14 rebounds for the Tigers, who improved to 2-1 despite the departure of Asi Taulava.
The Energy Boosters, who pulled off a 74-68 conquest of Taulava and newcomer Meralco last week, fell to 1-2 after failing to sustain a fine start.
Barako Bull raced to an early 13-6 lead before the Tigers responded with a 15-2 run to take a 21-15 advantage at the end of the first period. The Tigers then held the Energy Boosters to six points in the first seven minutes of the second period on the way to a 20-point spread at the half. Espino, the fourth oldest player in the league who will turn 37 on Dec. 20, shot 12 of his 17 points in the first half. He was running with the rest of the team in the second period as the Tigers played tough defense and held the Boosters to just 11 points in the quarter. “We have to start strong on defense and it showed,” coach Bong Perasol said. The scores:
First Game
POWERADE 87—David 23, Espino 17, Antonio 14, Ritualo 8, Reyes J. 6, Reyes R. 5, Lanete 4, Calimag 4, Rizada 2, Macapagal 2, Laure 2, Gonzales 0, Mendoza 0.
BARAKO BULL 77—Juntilla 19, Thiele 13, Isip 12, Salvacion 11, Yee 8, Wainwright 7, Misolas 4, Cruz 2, Alonzo 1, Duncil 0, Andaya 0, Hubalde 0, Dimaunahan 0.
Quarters: 21-15, 46-26, 69-55, 87-77
Second Game
SAN MIGUEL 69—Santos 20, Washington 13, Cabagnot 11, Pena 7, Pennisi 5, Racela 4, Hontiveros 4, Yeo 3, Artadi 2, Tugade 0.
BRGY. GINEBRA 68—Miller 19, Tubid 10, Caguioa 8, De Ocampo 6, Hatfield 5, Aquino 4, Wilson 4, Villanueva 4, Cortez 4, Intal 2, Helterbrand 2, Mamaril 0.
Quarters: 12-26, 31-46, 59-55, 69-68
Barako Bull raced to an early 13-6 lead before the Tigers responded with a 15-2 run to take a 21-15 advantage at the end of the first period. The Tigers then held the Energy Boosters to six points in the first seven minutes of the second period on the way to a 20-point spread at the half. Espino, the fourth oldest player in the league who will turn 37 on Dec. 20, shot 12 of his 17 points in the first half. He was running with the rest of the team in the second period as the Tigers played tough defense and held the Boosters to just 11 points in the quarter. “We have to start strong on defense and it showed,” coach Bong Perasol said. The scores:
First Game
POWERADE 87—David 23, Espino 17, Antonio 14, Ritualo 8, Reyes J. 6, Reyes R. 5, Lanete 4, Calimag 4, Rizada 2, Macapagal 2, Laure 2, Gonzales 0, Mendoza 0.
BARAKO BULL 77—Juntilla 19, Thiele 13, Isip 12, Salvacion 11, Yee 8, Wainwright 7, Misolas 4, Cruz 2, Alonzo 1, Duncil 0, Andaya 0, Hubalde 0, Dimaunahan 0.
Quarters: 21-15, 46-26, 69-55, 87-77
Second Game
SAN MIGUEL 69—Santos 20, Washington 13, Cabagnot 11, Pena 7, Pennisi 5, Racela 4, Hontiveros 4, Yeo 3, Artadi 2, Tugade 0.
BRGY. GINEBRA 68—Miller 19, Tubid 10, Caguioa 8, De Ocampo 6, Hatfield 5, Aquino 4, Wilson 4, Villanueva 4, Cortez 4, Intal 2, Helterbrand 2, Mamaril 0.
Quarters: 12-26, 31-46, 59-55, 69-68
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