Beermen slay Dragons

Game on Friday (Tennis Indoor Senayan, Indonesia)

7 p.m. (8 p.m. in Manila) – Indonesia Warriors vs San Miguel Beermen

MANILA, Philippines - San Miguel Beermen eked out a vengeful 77-66 victory over Westports Malaysia Dragons to finally win back-to-back games in the 2013 Asean Basketball League yesterday at Ynares Sports Arena.

Matt Rogers and Chris Banchero stepped up with 21 points apiece while birthday boy Asi Taulava provided the leadership and muscle underneath as the Beermen not only got back at the team that frustrated them in a previous meeting (82-76) but also secured a second consecutive triumph for the first time this season.

Following up to their  66-55 dismantling of Jobstreet.com Singapore Slingers over the weekend, the Beermen improved their record to 5-3, just one game behind defending champion Indonesia Warriors (6-2).

Rogers was left alone to carry the fight as fellow import Gabe Freeman served out his one-game suspension for his action in their last outing. After an eight-point debut, Rogers led scoring this time while grabbing 10 rebounds and blocking three shots in a redeeming performance.

Taulava celebrated his 40th birthday by hauling down 10 rebounds, issuing seven assists, and scoring six points to go with one steal and one block as he made up for the absence of Menk, who is sidelined by a fractured nose.

Gavin Edwards banged in 22 points and 16 rebounds for the Dragons (4-5) but peer Sam Monroe struggled with 12 on six-of-nine shooting, way off his sizzling 32 markers in their first encounter.

Fil-Am Justin Milton, another hero in the Dragons’ previous win over SMB, coughed out only six markers.