Beermen bury Kings deeper into cellar

San Miguel Beer stayed on a roll and Barangay Ginebra remained on a skid.

SMB stretched its unbeaten run to six games and sent Ginebra reeling to a fifth straight defeat as the Beermen whipped the Kings, 95-80, in the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.

"Pinagpapala kami bago mag-Holy Week," said San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen whose team is carrying a perfect 6-0 win-loss record going into the league's long break in observance of the Lenten season.

San Miguel's next game is on Easter Sunday against Rain or Shine with Danny Ildefonso possibly back in action.

"We're getting healthier. Ping (Marc Pingris) suited up tonight although we're not really expecting much from him, having just got back from injury. Danny I is the next to return. He's already back in practice," said Tanquingcen.

Jay Washington and Dondon Hontiveros pumped in 19 points apiece while Gabe Freeman grabbed 16 rebounds and added 13 points to lead the Beermen past the Kings.

"Credit goes to the players. They're really stepping up," said Tanquingcen. "What's going well for us is the fact that every different game, different people are stepping up for us."

Washington went 3-of-4 from beyond the arc while Hontiveros made five of nine three-point attempts to pace the Beermen who used key runs in the final half to topple the Kings.

Down by two, 36-38, at half time, the Beermen established control midway through the third period on an attack that opened up a 12-point lead for the team at 56-42.

The Kings came within three, 69-72, early in the fourth before the Beermen launched another run to pull away for good.

Hontiveros had back-to-back triples clinching the SMB win at 92-80 with time down to 1:13.

Mick Pennisi, Olsen Racela and Dorian Pena had valuable contributions with Pennisi scoring 12 points, Racela putting in nine points and three assists, and Pena sharing 13 rebounds and eight points.

Jayjay Helterbrand and Rod Nealy came through with 20-point games but didn't get the needed support from their teammates as Ginebra slid in the cellar at 1-5.

This is the worst start by any defending champion since the Kings themselves began the 2007-08 Philippine Cup with a 1-4 record.

With five straight defeats, the Kings have matched their longest losing streak this season they first suffered during the elimination round of the Philippine Cup. (NC)

The scores:

San Miguel 95 - Washington 19, Hontiveros 19, Freeman 13, Pennisi 12, Racela 9, Pena 8, Villanueva 7, Custodio 4, Gonzales 4, Pingris 0.

Ginebra 80 - Helterbrand 24, Nealy 21, Tubid 9, Reavis 7, Artadi 6, Intal 4, Wilson 4, Lanete 3, Mamaril 2, Kramer 0, Pacana 0, Cabatu 0.

Quarterscores 18-18, 36-38, 68-60, 95-80.


http://www.pba.ph/content/view/2555/1/