SMB KEEPS HOPES ALIVE
San Miguel Beer returned from the All-Star break back in championship form, fighting back into contention for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs with a 129-114 clobbering of Rain or Shine at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday night.
Arizona Reid dealt his former team much beating and could have easily finished with a 50-point game if not rested by coach Leo Austria early in the heat of a verbal tussle with the Rain or Shine side.
Reid erupted for 41 points, including six three-pointers in the second half, in a topnotch performance that inspired the Beermen to claim a second straight win and third in their last five games.
“We’ve got a clear view now of our playoff chance. We’re still there,” said SMB coach Leo Austria as his team closed in on the middle-of-the-pack teams with a 3-6 overall slate.
Despite 50 points from Wayne Chism, Rain or Shine muffed a shot at joint leadership with Talk n Text and Meralco at 6-2 and instead slid to third at 5-3.
“It’s a big win for us and that’s the reason why AZ Reid was celebrating. It’s the usual expression, hindi lang nagkaintindihan,” said Austria of the near fracas that marred the game in the last two minutes.
After the game, Reid admitted: “I should have been more respectful.”
As the Beermen made it 122-104 with just 2:17 left, Reid said something to Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao that sparked a heated verbal exchange leading to four technical infractions.
Guiao was tossed out of the game after a second “T” incurred in nudging Reid after the SMB import inbounded the ball in front of the RoS bench.
RoS assistant coach Caloy Garcia also drew a technical foul as he threw back nasty words at Reid.
“I was just trying to win and trying to have the edge,” Reid said later, acknowledging he won’t be with SMB if not released by Rain or Shine.
Also with big games from June Mar Fajardo, Arwind Santos and Alex Cabagnot, the Beermen put in the biggest output by any team in the league in the last three seasons.
Fajardo came through with 30 points and 19 rebounds, Santos contributed 18 markers while Cabagnot added 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
The Elasto Painters scored the first eight points of the contest before the Beermen hit their stride and won by lopsided fashion on 16-of-31 three-pointers and 42-of-87 (48 percent) overall clip.
The E-Painters actually didn’t do badly, making 10 triples and even hitting at a slightly better 49-percent shooting.
Rain or Shine was still in the thick of the battle when Reid, a former two-time PBA Best Import awardee with the Asian Coating Inc. ball club, strung up four straight three-pointers, opening a 109-90 lead for SMB. (SB)
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