SAN MIGUEL BEER OPENS SERIES WITH ROUT OF TNT
Jayson Castro’s worst nightmare became a reality Friday night in Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals between his team, Talk ‘N Text, and San Miguel Beer.
Castro had feared that the return of Alex Cabagnot to the SMB franchise, following a trade with ex-GlobalPort player Sol Mercado, would alter the equation of the best-of-7 series and tilt the balance in the Beermen’s favor, and he was right.
The Tropang Texters point guard couldn’t have foreseen the drastic transformation any clearer as San Miguel, with Cabagnot directing the offense, overwhelmed TNT in every department en route to a 109-86 rout at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Game 2 is at 5 p.m. Sunday at the same venue.
Nothing went the Tropang Texters’ way starting in the second quarter, and even the game clock looked unfavorably at them.
Desperate for a basket at the height of SMB’s second quarter explosion, TNT appeared to have pinched one after rookie Kevin Alas snatched the ball from behind June Mar Fajardo under the Texters goal and banked in a reverse shot simultaneously with the halftime buzzer.
The referees reviewed the play and determined, however, that the ball had not yet left Alas’ hand when the red light went on and nullified the shot, leaving TNT with a 53-36 deficit.
SMB trailed, 27-20, after the 12 minutes as Ranidel De Ocampo went 4 of 4 for 11 points. But the Beermen, with Santos hitting back-to-back 3s and the defense holding the Texters without a field goal in the first six minutes of the second period, roared back to overwhelm TNT, 33-9.
Fajardo finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks, while Santos had 21 points and 8 rebounds. Cabagnot “debuted” with 13 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists, coming off the bench for Chris Ross and playing 23 minutes.
Cabagnot assisted on consecutive baskets by Fajardo and Santos in the first quarter before getting fouled while attempting a 3-pointer – he made all three free throws.
TNT was 24 of 73 overall from the field, including 6 of 23 from rainbow territory. SMB dominated the paint, 38 points to 26, second chance points, 12-7, and collected 14 more points off turnovers.
“This is just the first game. I’m sure they will bounce back,” said SMB coach Leo Austria. “They’ll do a lot of things to prevent June Mar from getting to the shaded area. We woke up from our loss to them in the eliminations. We know the importance of the first game of a series.”
Another unfortunate incident marred the closing minute of the game, with veteran TNT forward Danny Seigle, a former SMB star, tangling with Beermen rookie David Semerad.
Seigle employed a WWE-type takedown on Semerad, who responded with two kicks while on the floor. Both players were assessed a double foul and flagrant fouls.
The exchange may have foreshadowed the ferocity by which Game 2 would be fought. (WJRHT)
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