Beermen twit Aces, join Kings at second

Games today (Ynares Sports Center)

4:30 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs TNT KaTropa

6:45 p.m. – Ginebra vs Meralco

MANILA, Philippines - San Miguel Beer handled a crippled Alaska Milk team with relative ease, pulling off a 109-97 win to get back in strong contention for the playoffs’ top seeding in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City last night.

Even with Charles Rhodes clipped by early fouls, the Beermen went on a smooth ride as they bounced back from a loss and regained a piece of second place with the Ginebra Kings at 7-2.

The Kings and the Beermen will finish first and second if both sweep their last two games in the single-round-robin elims.

Earlier in this Petron Blaze Saturday Special, NLEX closed out its stint in the tourney with a 116-114 win over Phoenix Petroleum.

With their win, NLEX coach Yeng Guiao curiously gave his old squad Rain or Shine a free quarters passage.

Alaska (4-6), Globalport (4-6), Phoenix (4-7) and Mahindra (3-7) fight it out for the two remaining quarters spots.

Riding the momentum of a breakthrough win over the Alaska Milk Aces Wednesday, the Road Warriors made it two in a row against the Phoenix side in a game they led from start to finish.

The Road Warriors enjoyed a biggest lead of 23 points in the second quarter, and used it as cushion on Phoenix’s second-half surge anchored by sweet-shooting rookie Matthew Wright.

As in their previous game, the Road Warriors drew tremendous lift from fresh trade recruits Alex Mallari and JR Quiñahan who combined for 36 points, 13 rebounds and six assists.

NOTES: Barangay Ginebra will don a retro uniform to honor the 1991 Ginebra squad in taking on Meralco tonight. The ‘91 Ginebra team was the first PBA ball club to come back from a 1-3 deficit to win a best-of-seven championship series. Playing coach Robert Jaworski and his team did that against Formula Shell in the first conference of the 1991 PBA season.

The scores: 

First Game

NLEX 116 – Mallari 22, Chism 20, Quiñahan 14, Lastimosa 10, Alas10, Monfort 9, Al-Hussaini 8, Tiingson 7, Rios 6,Gotladera 4, Taulava 2, Baracael 2, Soyud 2. 

PHOENIX 114 – Wright 42, McKay 16, Jazul 13, Baguio 8, Torres 9, W. Wilson 7, Borboran 6, Alolino 5, J. Wilson 5, Intal 2, Dehesa 2, Kramer 0, Miranda 0.

Quarterscores: 35-22, 59-46, 83-79, 116-114.

Second Game

SAN MIGUEL 109 – Cabagnot 25, Rhodes 24, Lassiter 19, Ross 18, Santos 10, Fajardo 5, Tubid 3, Espinas 2, Heruela 2, McCarthy 1, Semerad 0, Agovida 0, Reyes 0.

ALASKA 97 – Jefferson 23, Banchero 22, Dela Cruz 12, Racal 9, Thoss 8, Manuel 6, Enciso 5, Pascual 4, Galliguez 3, Hontiveros 3, Mendoza 2, Exciminiano 0.

Quarterscores: 25-24, 53-50, 84-68, 109-97.