Philippine Sports News and Updates

San Miguel Beer survived another knockout game in the wildcard round, coming out with tremendous firepower to dispose of Air21, 105-86, and gain entry into the KFC PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinal round at the Araneta Coliseum last night.

The Beermen stoked the fire of their 99-89 win over the Coca-Cola Tigers last Dec. 28, making it 3-0 over the Express in their head-to-head duels in the conference and gaining the right to play the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the quarterfinals.

It’s Sta. Lucia versus Rain or Shine at 5 p.m. and San Miguel against Ginebra at 7:30 p.m. at the start of the best-of-three quarterfinal showdowns Wednesday at the same venue.

“Great players make great plays. Credit goes to my players. They made it (the victory) look easy,” said San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen in their conquest of the Express.

Lordy Tugade, Dondon Hontiveros, Bonbon Custodio, Danny Seigle and Dorian Peña all scored in double figures as the Beermen eased out the Express with torrid shooting.

Air21 became the fourth team to be eliminated in the all-Filipino tourney after Red Bull, Purefoods and Coca-Cola.

The Beermen survived their wildcard journey and, with the relief, are starting from scratch in the quarters versus the Kings.

“I know we’re not expected to be here (wildcard round). But there’s reason for everything and I think God has reason in bringing us here. Going into the quarters, we’ll be a better team after going through the wildcard. We’ll be more confident,” said Tanquingcen.

“Ginebra’s a tough team whether Mark (Caguioa) is there or not. But I’m not taking anything away from my team. We’re coming out and making the best we can,” Tanquingcen added.

Tugade and Hontiveros rifled in 18 points each, Custodio and Seigle fired 16 apiece while Peña added 12 as the Beermen easily negated Gary David’s 31-point explosion.

The Beermen established control in the second quarter and kept the Express at bay the rest of the way.

Seigle had been hot, having made 10 points when hit by Arwind Santos’ wayward elbow opening a one-inch wide cut on his right cheekbone midway through the second period.

The two teams figured in a highly physical contest from the onset with Wynne Arboleda being called an offensive infraction for swinging the ball hard on the defending Tugade late in the first half.

Tugade took over from Seigle in the second period, knocking in a triple, a twinner and three charities to help the Beermen get a 48-41 spread at the half.

Custodio, Peña, Hontiveros and Olsen Racela also had significant numbers as the Beermen seized control after engaging the Express in two deadlocks and eight lead changes.

David made 17 points, three rebounds and two assists in the first 24 minutes of play for the Express.