Beermen rip Mixers, stay solid at second

Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

3 p.m. – Barako Bull vs Globalport

5:15 p.m. – Ginebra vs Alaska

MANILA, Philippines - San Miguel Beer strung up three straight triples to quell the last of San Mig Coffee’s series of rallies, hacking out a 97-88 victory to solidify its bid for a second-place finish in the PLDT Home TVolution PBA Commissioner’s Cup elimination round at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City last night.

Arwind Santos, Marcio Lassiter and Kevin Jones made those triples, giving the Beermen a 97-81 spread and subsequently the win in this crucial Petron Blaze Saturday Special.

The Beermen, thus, jacked up their win-loss record to 6-2, a full game and a half ahead of the Mixers who dropped to joint third with the Alaska Milk Aces at 4-3.

Obviously, San Miguel Beer made good use of its long two-week break after a 78-89 defeat at the hands of Alaska in a road game in Biñan, Laguna on March 29.

“I didn’t know how to come out from that break. We just did our best, using it wisely to prepare for the two-time champion San Mig Coffee,” said SMB coaching consultant Todd Purves.

“Until proven otherwise, I think San Mig Coffee is still the team to beat in this tournament,” Purves added.

The Beermen turned the tables on the Mixers by doing a good job to get the rebounds and make their outside shots.

Jones had a big contribution on both fronts, hauling down 16 rebounds and going 4-of-6 from beyond the arc to highlight his 26-point production.

Lassiter, Chris Ross, Junmar Fajardo also made impact as the Beermen dominated the San Mig Coffee side stymied by the loss of energetic forward Marc Pingris to an injury suffered early in the second period.

Moments after a collision with Doug Kramer, Pingris went down on his knees in pain and left for the showers ahead of the rest. He apparently suffered back spasm.

The Beermen slowly pulled away after Pingris’ exit and went on to inch closer to claiming the other twice-to-beat bonus in the quarterfinals.

Fajardo came through with a three-point play off James Mays as the Beermen enjoyed a 12-point spread, 50-38, before eventually closing the half at 50-42.

San Miguel edged San Mig Coffee, 25-23, in the first quarter then started the next period with a 15-7 roll to take its first sizeable lead at 50-42.

Meanwhile, Alaska Milk tries to improve its record in the Top Four while Barangay Ginebra seeks to formalize quarterfinals entry as they square off in the 5:15 p.m. weekend mainer at the Smart Araneta Coliseum today.

Barako Bull fights for survival while Globalport hopes to avoid a winless showing in the mid-season tourney as they play in the 3 p.m. curtain raiser.

Alaska Milk tries to improve its record in the Top Four while Barangay Ginebra seeks to formalize quarterfinals entry as they square off in the PLDT Home TVolution PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum today.

Barako Bull fights for survival while Globalport hopes to avoid a winless showing in the mid-season tourney as they play in the 3 p.m. curtain raiser.

The Aces are on a three-game roll while the Kings are coming off a crucial win over the Meralco Bolts going into their key 5:15 p.m. match.

Coach Luigi Trillo and his chargers are after a win that could give them a lock for a spot in the best-of-three quarterfinals.

Coach Ato Agustin and his troops are also after a Top Six finish. But at the moment, their immediate goal is to formally claim a playoff seat.

In winning their last three games, the Aces are at fourth place at 4-3, still with an outside chance to land in the Top Two.

The Meralco Bolts are at fifth at 4-4 while the Kings currently share sixth place with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and the Air21 Express at 3-4. The Energy Cola are on the brink of elimination at 2-6.

Alaska pulled a first three-game run since sweeping Barangay Ginebra in the last second conference finale as the Aces outfought the Barako Bull Energy Cola, 78-71, in a rugged, low-scoring game last April 2.

The Aces continued to thrive on a tough, physical halfcourt game, making it three in a row following an 88-78 whipping of the Express and an 89-78 drubbing of the San Miguel Beermen.

Rob Dozier and his teammates played even tougher in their most recent game, holding the Energy Cola way below their average of 97.8 points a game.

Ginebra, meanwhile, rose from a stupor the last time out, gaining the needed lift from new import Josh Powell.

Powell stuck to the role he’s supposed to play and, with more local involvement, the Kings topped the Bolts, 88-78.

“Nakasunod agad sa sistema at ibinigay ang hinahanap namin,” said Agustin.

The Ginebra coaching staffs and the Ginebra locals expect Powell to play even better Sunday.

Trillo, meanwhile, is wary of the revved-up Ginebra crew.

“(Mark) Caguioa and (LA) Tenorio are always a tough concern plus their second unit has been playing well, particularly  (Josh) Urbiztondo, (Mac) Baracael and (Jayjay) Helterbrand,” said Trillo.

“Ginebra will be extra tougher with Powell completely changing the team. He can rebound and he keeps everybody involved. He gets away with a ton of solid screens,” Trillo added.