|
By Frank C. Calapre, Correspondent
SAN MIGUEL Beer leaned on Dondon Hontiveros and Lordy Tugade’s
heroism in the two extra periods to beat Air21, 130-129, Wednesday
in the 34th KFC-PBA Philippine Cup elimination round at the Araneta
Coliseum.
The 6’3” Hontiveros sank his fourth triple
with only 3.1 seconds remaining in the regular period to force the
first overtime, 110-110.
Tugade then connected back-to-back triples to
force another overtime at 122-122.
Hontiveros and Tugade combined for five points
in the crucial stretch of the final extension period to lift the
Beermen to 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, four rebounds, two assists and two blocks.
Dorian Peña chipped in 22 points, 11 rebounds
and three blocks, Jay Washington had 19 points while Bonbon Custodio
scored a career-high 17 points. Olsen Racela finished with 15
points, nine assists, three steals and three blocks.
Gary David led the Express with 36 points,
including 30 in the second half. Wynne Arboleda had 23 points, eight
rebounds and eight assists while Arwind Santos contributed 15
points, 16 rebounds and five blocks.
The Express, who lost to Barangay Ginebra in the
Finals of the recent Fiesta Conference, were on the game only in the
first period as they tied the match twice before Hontiveros struck
with straight baskets to put 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 at 47-30, 4:02 remaining in the second
period.
Meanwhile, RP-team 1990 coach Robert Jaworski
and 2004 RP team-Busan coach Jong Uichico stressed the importance of
outside shooting and general attitude for the prospective players
who will soon compose the RP squad to the 2009 Fiba-Asia World
Championship Qualifying next year in Guangzhou, China.
|
