Saturday, July 01, 2006
Beermen tame Barakos to force semis Game 7
The San Miguel Beermen went the distance in their best of seven series, taming the Red Bull Barakos, 116-101, in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) All-Filipino Conference at the Cuneta Astrodome yesterday.
The victory tied the series to three games apiece and forged a winner-take-all battle this Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.
The teamwork of San Miguel coach Jong Uichico’s wards was the key to beating Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao’s men.
Danny Seigle again anchored the offensive thrust of the Beermen, leading the team in scoring, and, in the process, joined the elite list of the PBA players who reached 5,000 points.
Seigle became the 53rd PBA player to do so.
“Hope I will get the same kind of support from my teammates in Game 7. It will help ease the pressure on me,” Seigle said.
Scored big
Christian Calaguio also scored big for the Beermen, chipping in a season-high 23 points, while Olsen Racela added 18.
Fighting with their backs against the wall, the Beermen wasted no time in laying their offensive attack, racing on to a massive lead at the end of the first two periods.
The Barakos, through Enrico Villanueva and Larry Fonacier, were able to cut down San Miguel’s lead to 10 points, 80-90, in the opening minutes of the final quarter.
But Calaguio responded by lighting up a San Miguel rally that padded their edge to 106-87 in the middle of the period.
Final nail
That proved to be the final nail on Red Bull’s coffin.
“They (Red Bull) thought (Game 6) would be easy. But we were ready and hoping to get the series into a Game 7,” Uichico said.
The Beermen, though, have yet to win a Game 7 under Uichico, while Red Bull has yet to lose in a best-of-7 series.
“There’s always a first time,” said Uichico.
San Miguel Beer 116 – Calaguio 23, Seigle 21, Racela 18, Pena 18, Ildefonso 10, Hontiveros 9, Gonzales 6, Cablay 5, Adriano 4, Noble 2, Kong 0, Lopez 0.
Red Bull 101 – Villanueva 21, Pennisi 18, Tugade 14, Robinson 9, Fonacier 8, Bugia 8, Cruz 7, Hrabak 6, Baguio 5, Valenzuela 3, Najorda 2.
Quarterscores: 26-21, 55-44, 88-75, 116-101. (JSV With PBA media bureau)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 1, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
