FOR the second time in as many meetings, San Miguel Beer got through the wringer that is Barangay
Ginebra.
And the Beermen are in for some form of celebration since their 79-78 escape Sunday virtually
assured them of a top two ranking and an enviable reward in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta
Coliseum.
The victory jacked SMB’s win-loss record to a tourney-leading 9-2 and at least one more win in
its last three eliminations games will give it a slot in the top two and a twice-to-beat advantage
in the quarterfinals that goes along with it.
“Ang sabi ko sa team, this is a very important game for us, kasi this will help determine kung
number 1 or 2 kami sa standings,” said winning coach Ato Agustin. “Ngayong nangyari na,
napakaganda na ng posisyon namin.”
Dondon Hontiveros had 20 points and Jay Washington finished with 11 points, 12 rebounds, three
assists and as many blocks. He also tipped in his own miss to make it a 79-78 game, 13.4 seconds
remaining.
But it was Arwind Santos who reprised his hero’s role, much like in their first meeting which SMB
barely won 69-68 last Oct. 17. In that game, the rangy Santos forced Willie Miller to dribble off
his foot in the dying seconds.
Miller got the inbound and went baseline, but his shot was blocked from behind by Santos and the
ball went to Dondon Hontiveros, who dribbled away from the Kings who were trying to foul him in the
remaining seconds.
Despite blowing as much as a 64-50 third quarter lead it remained another sterling performance by
SMB since it showed one collective mind-set Agustin likes.
“Nakita ko ‘yung players hindi nag-give up, especially sa defense,” Agustin said. “Ang
gusto ko, composure di nawala. We were leading by 14, then we started to relax kaya sila nakahabol.
At least nakabalik pa rin kami. Di na-rattle, di nag-panic ang mga bata.”
Mark Caguioa wound up with 16 points and nine rebounds to lead Ginebra, with the bulk of his points
and boards coming in leading the Kings’ fightback that brought them level at 68.
Miller faked off three defenders to connect on a short stab and Rudy Hatfield canned two charities
to give the Kings a 76-75 edge and the latter’s own undergoal basket off a feed by Ronald Tubid
kept them ahead 78-77, still 28.7 seconds to go.
The game marked the third one-point loss by Ginebra and it became apparent when it blew an early
19-9 lead enroute to giving up the most first half points of 45 while scoring only 40.
Caguioa would not let the Kings’ fans among the more than 14,000 in attendance by doing it all in
the last two minutes of the third, bringing them within 59-66.
Rookie Jimbo Aquino, Agustin’s former NCAA MVP at San Sebastian, helped Caguioa along with two
triples in the early fourth period.
The scores:
San Miguel 79 - Hontiveros 20, Santos 15, Washington 11, Seigle 9, Cabagnot 8, Yeo 6, Pena 6,
Miranda 2, Ildefonso 2, Tugade 0, Racela 0.
Ginebra 78 - Caguioa 16, Tubid 15, Miller 11, Hatfield 10, Aquino 8, Wilson 5, Villanueva 5, Menk
4, Cortez 2, Helterbrand 2.
Quarters: 21-22, 45-40, 66-59, 79-78
