SMB CLOSES IN ON TWICE TO BEAT BONUS

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San Miguel Beer played with great energy and intensity coming from a two-week break, drubbing San Mig Super Coffee, 97-88, to inch closer to claiming the other twice-to-beat bonus in the coming PLDT Home TVolution PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs.

Before a good weekend crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena, the Beermen outworked and outmaneuvered the Mixers, hacking out the crucial victory that firmed up their hold of second place entering the homestretch of the elimination round.

At 6-2, San Miguel Beer is already assured of a tie for second spot. The Beermen avoid complications of any tie if they hurdle their last game against the Air21 Express or in case the Mixers and the Aces fail to sweep their last two games.

With the loss, the Mixers fell to joint third with the Aces at 4-3,  a game and a half behind the Beermen.

“We’re not looking at that. It’s a cliché but we just look at the particular game we play,” said SMB coaching consultant Todd Purves.

Beaten by the Aces in their most recent game last March 29, the Beermen played with so much focus and bounced back with a dominating victory in this Petron Blaze Saturday Special.

“I didn’t know how to come out from that break. We just did our best, using it wisely to prepare for the two-time champion San Mig Coffee,” said Purves.

“Until proven otherwise, I think San Mig Coffee is still the team to beat in this tournament,” Purves added.

“I have to commend our second team. They did a good job sustaining the effort of our first unit. I have to commend in particular Sol Mercado and Doug Kramer. They didn’t score much but put tremendous effort on defense,” said SMB coach Biboy Ravanes.

The Beermen showed tremendous energy all game long which the Mixers failed to match especially after the exit of Marc Pingris due to an injury suffered early in the second quarter.

Pingris complained of a severe back pain after an accidental collision with Kramer. He headed to the showers ahead of the rest, never to return.

The Beermen slowly pulled away upon Pingris’ exit, leading by as many as 18 in the third period before nailing the key win.

San Miguel Beer strung up three straight triples to quell the last of San Mig Coffee’s series of rallies entering the last three minutes.

Arwind Santos, Marcio Lassiter and Kevin Jones made those triples, giving the Beermen a 16-point spread at 97-81.

Jones went 4-of-6 from beyond the arc and finished with game highs of 26 points and 16 rebounds.

The Beermen converted 11 of 29 three-pointers and dominated the boards at 51-44.

Junmar Fajardo came through with a three-point play off James Mays as the Beermen enjoyed a 12-point spread, 50-38, before eventually closing the half at 50-42.

San Miguel edged San Mig Coffee, 25-23, in the first quarter then started the next period with a 15-7 roll to take its first double-digit spread at 50-42. (SB)

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