Thursday, November 06, 2008 Beermen survive Air21 in double OT
MANILA - San Miguel Beer leaned on Dondon Hontiveros and Lordy Tugade’s heroism in the two extension periods to outlast the Air 21 Express, 130-129, yesterday in the 34th KFC-PBA Philippine Cup elimination round at the Araneta Coliseum.
The 6-foot-3 Hontiveros scored his fourth triple with only 3.1 seconds remaining in the regular period to force the first five-minute extension, 110-110.
Then Tugade connected back-to-back triples en route to forging a second overtime, 122-122.
Both then combined for five points in the crucial stretch of the final extension to lift the Beermen to the solo leadership with a 6-2 slate.
“It was a close match and it’s good we were able to stop them in the crucial stretch of the second period,” said Tugade.
Hontiveros topscored for the Beermen with 25 points, while Jay Washington added 19, and rookie Bon-Bon Custodio had 17.
Tugade and Olsen Racelo finished with identical 15 points apiece.
Gary David led the Express with 36 points, while Wynne Arboleda settled with 23.
The Express, who lost to Barangay Ginebra in the the recent Fiesta Conference, finals, were on the game only in the first period as they tied the match twice before Hontiveros struck with straight baskets to move the Beermen on top, 26-21, going to the second quarter.
Hontiveros, who scored 11 points in the opening period alone, continued with his sterling shooting that triggered a 16-6 run to widen the lead to its biggest, 47-30, still 4: 02 remaining in the second period. (FCC)
