Beermen cop title in 6th game

All they needed was one big spurt in the second quarter and one big game from big man Dan Seigle.

San Miguel Beer, the winningest league after a quarter-century of the PBA, extended its dynasty with an overwhelming conquest of sister team Ginebra, 95-75, before a record crowd last night and won the best-of-seven series, 4-2, to notch its third straight crown and its first-ever All Filipino crown.

The victory was even sweeter for coach Jong Uichico who had won all five finals he has coached the Beermen even as it came at the hands of a sister team that struggled hard all night on the egging of a legion of fans, the big bulk of a record 17,511 paying fans at the Big Dome.

Long range missiles by Seigle, Dwight Lago and Freddie Abuda expanded a San Miguel first quarter lead (17-15) to 50-39 at the break, and after that the Kings looked headed for their biggest loss in the title series.

After sensuous Rufa Mae Quinto belted out her song "Ayoko Na" before giggling fans at half time, the agony of Ginebra fans continued in the third quarter where the Beermen limited the Kings’ output with a tough defense while shooting from almost all angles to pad the lead to 72-53.

Seigle powered the Beermen’s breakaway in the fourth quarter, capping his offensive sock with a beautiful lay-in and a few seconds later with a triple to give San Miguel Beer enough cushion at 87-64, with the clocking ticking down to the last four minutes.

After that, the deafening Ginebra noise started to die down.

The Beermen buckled down to work in the second quarter, shrugging off a poor 38-percent shooting in the first period as they took a 50-39 lead at halftime. They trailed by three, 17-20, in the first 12 minutes of play.

San Miguel shot well in the second period that it ended up with a 53-percent clip in the first half compared to Ginebra’s 44-percent shooting. The Gin Kings operated better in the first period, shooting 56 percent from the field.

Seigle had a field day in the first half, scoring 19 points as the Gin Kings concentrated their defense on Danny Ildefonso, whom they held to only four.

Ildefonso hardly got an open shot but made good kick-out passes, helping the Beermen seize control going into the final half of play. He had nine rebounds and eight assists in the first half alone.

Seigle and Dwight Lago struck hard from the outside with Ildefonso shackled at low post, combining for 25 points in the first half, including three-pointers.

So intense was the game that three technical fouls were called in the second quarter. Vergel Meneses and Nic Belasco were whistled a double-technical foul as they nearly slugged it out after a strong collision. The other technical was given to Olsen Racela.

Intently watching the game beside San Miguel and Ginebra coaching consultant Ron Jacobs was Ryan Fletcher, the former University of the Connecticut standout who will suit up again for Ginebra in the coming Commissioner’s Cup. He flew in yesterday morning.

San Miguel officials are still negotiating with Terquinn Mott although Stephen Howard is ready to fly in anytime.