JAY R. GOTERA
Saudi Gazette Staff
MANILA — Arwind Santos caught fire early in the game, banging in 20 of his game-high 24 points in the first half to give the San Miguel Beermen enough lift for a crushing 100-82 victory over sister team Barangay Ginebra Kings Sunday night in the PBA Philippine Cup.
Santos had plenty of help with reigning MVP June Mar Fajardo outdueling his perennial rival Greg Slaughter. Fajardo finished with 22 points, 14 rebounds, two steals and one assist. Ronald Tubid added 15 while Marcio Lassiter and Chris posted 13 and 10 markers respectively.
Their fourth win in five games allowed the Beermen to break free from a five-team logjam at the top and vault into the solo lead.
The Kings fell to a 1-3 win-loss card to settle for a tie at ninth to 11th place in the standings with the league’s two newcomers—Mahindra Enforcers and Blackwater Elite.
Ginebra’s twin towers of Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar once again led their team, finishing with 21 points apiece. But aside from Chris Ellis who scored 11 markers, they failed to get enough support from the other Kings to add to the mounting frustration of multi-titled coach Tim Cone.
The Kings were especially miserable from long range, missing all their 12 three-point attempts. In contrast, the Beermen were 14 of 40 from beyond the arc.
After a tight first half that ended with SMB up by four, 47-43, the Beermen pulled away in the third quarter following an 11-1 run sparked by back-to-back three-pointers by Lassiter.
Tubid joined SMB’s three-point shooting party as the Beermen extended their lead to 23 points, 94-71, to the dismay of the mostly pro-Ginebra crowd at the Philsports Arena.
Barako Bull Energy 108,
Meralco Bolts 106
The Barako Bull Energy survived a conference-high 40-point performance from Meralco’s Gary David to hack out a 108-106 victory over the Bolts.
The Energy thus improved to an even 2-2 card to tie with idle NLEX Road Warriors for sixth to seventh place in the standings.
Their fourth loss in as many games buried the Bolts deeper in the cellar.
Josh Urbiztondo starred for Barako Bull firing 13 of his game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter.
Down by three at the end of the third quarter, 82-79, the Energy uncorked a 12-0 blast to start the final frame, capped by an Urbiztondo three-pointer.
The Bolts kept fighting back and were down by just two, 108-106, after David drilled an off-balanced top-of-the key three-pointer. After the Energy missed four straight free throws, the Bolts had the chance to send the game into overtime with a twinner or go for the win with a three-pointer.
But the Barako Bull defense thwarted Meralco’s last possession to preserve the win.
Three other Barako Bull players scored in double digits with RR Garcia finishing with 18 points, Willy Wilson with 17 markers on top of eight boards and five assists, and diminutive Emman Monfort with 12.
Games Tuesday: Barako Bull Energy (2-2) vs. Mahindra Enforcers (1-3) and Barangay Ginebra Kings (1-3) vs. Meralco Bolts (0-4).
