Kendrick did trick for Shell

The Shell Turbochargers, with new import Jamal Kendrick beefing up the team’s frontcourt, ended a slump of nearly two years in their personal duel with the San Miguel Beermen last night, hammering out a 98-95 with the Samsung PBA Reinforced Conference at the Philsports Arena.

Kendrick supplied the team’s need in the shaded lane, allowing Eddie Laure and Dale Singson to concentrate on their respective jobs as the Turbochargers snapped an eight-game losing skid versus the Beermen.

Shell won over San Miguel the last time on Oct. 7, 2001. From that Shell team, only Singson, Chris Jackson, Tony dela Cruz, Mike Hrabak and Jun Marzan remain with the Turbochargers.

Despite the win, the Turbochargers stayed deep in the cellar in Group B with a 3-4 win-loss card. The Beermen were in the same predicament in Group A with a 1-6 slate.

Meanwhile, Yancy de Ocampo put up a good defense on Leo Bat-og in the closing seconds, carving out an 18-14 win in their Ginebra-Purefoods King of the Court one-on-one showdown.

A walk-in tapped to replace Tim Breaux, Kendrick, who played for Midwestern State and New Mexico State in the US NCAA, simply spoiled Dorian Peña’s comeback party for San Miguel.

Kendrick did a double-double job with 25 points and 14 rebounds. He also worked hard defensively, holding down Peña, who finished with 18 points, to only four in the second half.

"As I’ve been saying for so long now, we need a man in the middle to complete the equation," said Shell coach Perry Ronquillo in praise of Kendrick.

Somehow, Kendrick opened up San Miguel’s defense, allowing Laure and Singson to be more effective on the attack. Laure fired 21 points in the second half and finished with 27 while Singson rifled in 14 in the fourth quarter and ended up with a total of 20.

Singson made an eight-point binge of his own to cap a decisive 20-5 run as Shell surged ahead, 84-80, with 3:34 left in the fourth quarter.

The Turbochargers hung tough the rest of the way as they completed the win that moved them within a game and a half of joint Group B third placers Red Bull Baraco (4-2) and the Barangay Ginebra Kings (4-2).

"Hopefully, this win brings us back to contention in our group na talagang sobrang bigat. Imagine at 3-4, kulelat pa rin kami. Kung sa Group A kami, good for second place na ito," said Ronquillo.