Imports shine as SMBeer gets back at Saigon Heat

THE ABSENCE of two reliables hardly hurt San Miguel Beer as Dalron Johnson and Jarrid Famous powered the Beermen to a 75-65 drubbing of the Singapore Slingers in the Asean Basketball League yesterday at the Ynares Sports Arena.

Johnson presided in a third-quarter breakaway, while Famous also helped keep the Beermen far from reach for a 52-38 spread after a slim 31-28 halftime advantage.

The Beermen picked up their ninth win in 12 games even minus key cogs Aries Dimaunahan and Junjun Cabatu, who both served a one-game suspension after figuring in a bench-clearing brawl with the AirAsia Philippine Patriots last week.

“I think it showed the depth of our team,” said San Miguel coach Bobby Parks.

Johnson posted a double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds, while Famous highlighted his 17 markers with three flashy jams down the stretch.

RJ Rizada also took over a struggling Leo Avenido, the Beermen’s top local performer who found his shooting touch late in the game.

Rizada fired 11 points on top of four assists and four steals, while Avenido scored nine.

The Beermen also avenged their first-round loss to the Slingers, 63-71, in Singapore last month where Filipino import Donald Dulay sizzled with 23 points.

Dulay was shut down to three points this time on a 1-of-5 shooting clip in 37 minutes of action.

“We made our shots and controlled Dulay,” Parks said after the Beermen streaked to their fourth straight triumph. “He really hurt us in Singapore and we just struggled with our shooting at that time.”

The Patriots were trying to keep the solo lead at press time in a Vietnam road game versus the resurgent Saigon Heat.

Also serving one-game suspensions for the Patriots were top scorer Anthony Johnson, Ardy Larong and Erick Rodriguez.

The scores:

SAN MIGUEL 75—Johnson 19, Famous 17, Rizada 11, Avenido 9, Fajardo 8, Baguion 4, Fernandez 3, Yap 2, Ferriols 2, Basco 0, Dela Peña 0, Gonzales 0.

SINGAPORE 65—Graham 25, Little 18, Wong 13, Canta 4, Dulay 3, Oh 2, Lim 0, Khoo 0, Matialakan 0, Goh 0.

Quarters: 21-9, 31-28, 52-41, 75-65