Beermen show no mercy in stamping class in Game 1
by Jonas Terrado
The San Miguel Beermen put on a strong opening act in their best-of-seven showdown with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel for the PBA Philippine Cup crown last night, leaning on a big start which they sustained in the end to win 109-82 that silenced most of the crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Almost everyone inserted by Beermen coach Leo Austria played efficiently, particularly Chris Ross, June Mar Fajardo, and Gabby Espinas, and turned what was expected to be a thrilling start in the series into a one-sided that turned the arena located near the Manila Bay into a virtual library.
Ross ignited San Miguel’s quick 26-7 start with his plays on both ends, Fajardo gave Ginebra coach Tim Cone and his players plenty of headache in the post, while Espinas led a bench mob that made the Beermen led by as many as 36 points in the second half on their way to victory.
While Austria downplayed the result as something that could shaped up the series, he’s glad to be one-up in the series.
“This is just the first game. Whether we beat them by 30 points, 20 points or one point, this is just one game. The war is not yet over,” Austria said.
Ross had 17 points, five rebounds and eight assists, Fajardo posted 17 points and eight rebounds, while Espinas scored all of his 16 points in the second half for the Beermen, who can make it two in row tomorrow night miles away from the metropolis at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.
Fajardo flashed the form that made him a reigning three-time Most Valuable Player award and candidate for the Best Player of the Conference award despite having to miss the last few practices because of the flu.
And if Fajardo continues to be the same Fajardo everyone knows – in a clean bill of health or not – the undersized Ginebra team will be in a for very long series.
Cone had every reason to be frustrated after Ginebra shot a terrible 19-percent in the first quarter that allowed San Miguel to race to a huge lead.
While almost every San Miguel player was exceptional, Ginebra played otherwise.
“We were horrible all the way from start to finish,” said Cone. “We weren’t ready and that should be on me.”
Chris Ellis’ 13 points, Mark Caguioa and Jervy Cruz’s 12 apiece and Scottie Thompson’s 10-point, five-rebound, five-assist went for naught for Ginebra, which played perhaps its worst performance of the playoffs.
Scores:
SAN MIGUEL 109 – Ross 17, Fajardo 17, Cabagnot 16, Espinas 16, Tubid 11, Santos 9, Lassiter 8, Agovida 7, Heruela 4, Reyes 2, De Ocampo 2, Van Opstal 0, Mabulac 0, McCarthy 0.
GINEBRA 82 – Ellis 13, Cruz 12, Caguioa 12, Thompson 10, Taha 9, Tenorio 5, Aguilar 5, Mariano 4, Jamito 4, Devance 3, Mercado 2, Ferrer 2, Marcelo 1, Helterbrand 0, De Guzman 0.
Quarters: 35-12; 60-39; 89-56; 109-82.
Game Tomorrow (Lucena City)
6:30 p.m. – Ginebra
vs. San Miguel Beer
(San Miguel leads series 1-0)