Beermen rout Tigers in PBA road game

source: gmanews.tv

San Miguel got a piece of the lead in the PBA Philippine Cup Saturday night after routing Powerade, 119-94, in Panabo City, Davao del Norte.

The Beermen trailed by four after one quarter, but then began to flex their offensive muscle in the next period to pull away from the Tigers.

They did it behind a 19-9 run in an eight-minute span to overhaul a 25-21 deficit, and made it a 42-34 lead on an Alec Cabagnot jumper with 3:35 to go before the halftime break.

It was no contest from thereon.

The league's winningest franchise registered its third win in four outings, triggering a three-way logjam at the top along with the Alaska Aces and the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters.

The win was also the second straight for new coach Ato Agustin after rallying back the Beermen from the depths of a 21-point deficit to nip sister-team Barangay Ginebra last Sunday, 69-68.

Dondon Hontiveros topscored for San Miguel with 27 points, while ending up with 25 markers was Arwind Santos, whose dunk in the final 55 seconds of the game gave the Beermen their biggest lead at 29, 119-90.

Lordy Tugade, slowly getting back to his old form after being sidelined by a knee injury for most of the last season, and Mick Pennisi had 14 each.

Powerade fell to 2-2 in a tie with Barangay Ginebra, Rain or Shine and Air21 in the upper half of the standings.

Gary David and RenRen Ritualo were the only players in double figures for the Tigers with 21 and 19 points each.

From that eight-point deficit after the Beermen's second quarter rampage, the closest Powerade got was at 37-44 with 2:18 left in the period on a Gary David basket.

But the Beermen closed the first half with a 7-2 run behind Dondon Hontiveros' five straight baskets to sit on a 51-39 halftime edge. - JVP/KY, GMANews.TV

Scores:

San Miguel 119 - Hontiveros 27, Santos 25, Tugade 14, Miranda 14, Pennisi 11, Cabagnot 8, Pena 8, Artadi 5, Racela 4, Canta 3.

Powerade 94 - David 21, Ritualo 19, Lanete 9, Gonzales 9, Espino 7, Mendoza 7, Rizada 6, Calimag 4, Antonio 4, Laure 2, Reyes J. 2, Reyes R. 2, Macapagal 2.

Quarter scores: 21-25, 51-39, 88-66, 119-94.