MANILA: San Miguel just let Talk ‘N Text feel how ‘meaty’ it truly is.
The Beermen erected a 25-point lead early and then played steady in the clutch to eke out a 100-90 victory over the Tropang Texters, who just choked on too much firepower from San Miguel in the PBA Philippine Cup eliminations at the Araneta Coliseum.
Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes had referred to San Miguel as the ‘meat’ of their elimination round schedule, coming into last night’s game with an unbeaten 3-0 record built around a mean defense.
Apparently, the Texters just took in too much to chew, though they were able to save themselves from being humiliated by making a game out of it in the fourth quarter and actually having a chance to win.
Mick Pennisi preserved San Miguel’s second straight win in four games, knocking down a triple from more than 27 feet away with 42.9 seconds left to quell the last of several Talk ‘N Text rallies that had the Texters coming within 90-95.
That triple gave the Beermen a 98-90 lead as San Miguel, after opening up with two straight losses, finally showed the teeth that they have by bringing down the team that was mentioned — as often as they have — as the team to beat here.
“It’s a good feeling to win two straight games,” San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen said. “With the injuries to some of the players, I am glad that a lot of the others have started stepping up.”
The Beermen played without Jay Washington and two-time MVP Danny Ildefonso, with both expected to be out for extended periods of time because of injuries.
Pennisi finished with 15 points, nine of them in the first half when the Beermen took control. Arwind Santos and Dondon Hontiveros tossed in 17 points each to pace San Miguel, which clashes with struggling Rain or Shine next.
But, this early, even if the Elasto Painters are playing like one lost lot, Tanquingcen had vowed that they won’t be taking that game easy.
“We’re not expecting a walk in the park,” Tanquingcen said. “They’re contenders. They have good talent. We don’t expect anything easy against them.”
After taking a 45-20 lead late in the second period, the Beermen needed some clutch baskets in the stretch before Pennisi came up with his heroics as the Texters doggedly battled back.
Mac Cardona, who went on to finish with 20 points for Talk ‘N Text, actually missed two of three free throws which would have shoved the Texters closer than that five-point deficit.
Jimmy Alapag scored all of his 22 points in the first three periods, all of them keeping the Texters mathematically in the game. Jason Castro hit the bulk of his 16 points in the fourth where Talk ‘ N Tex tried to stay alive.
Lowly Barako Bull also did not expect anything easy from the Elasto Painters, but it was obvious that they had an easy time in the first game as the Energy Boosters kept Rain or Shine winless.
The Boosters also took a 25-point first half lead before going on to hammer out an 89-81 victory for the Painters’ fourth straight loss in the season-opening tournament.
“We had a great first two quarters. And if you’re going at the locker room up by 21 points at halftime, you know that you have some sort of insurance already,” said Boosters’ coach Leo Isaac.
