Beermen lead T’Chargers, 2-0

In a virtual repeat of their match Friday, San Miguel Beer, with an intact roster, outlasted a badly-decimated Shell side, 83-70, to move in the threshold of a fifth straight PBA finals appearance at the Araneta Coliseum last night.

As in Game One, the Turbo Chargers waged a tough fight three-fourths of the way only to run out of gas and steam, enabling the Beermen to make a strong finish and, in the process, take a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-five semis duel in the PBA Governors Cup.

The Beermen take their first of three cracks at the finals where they have become a regular fixture for three years now in Game Three Wednesday at the Philsports Arena.

"Malaking puhunan ang 2-0 lead namin but knowing Shell, we can’t take them for granted. We still have the job cut out for us," said the ever-humble coach Jong Uichico, under whom the Beermen have made the finals six times in eight tournaments thus far.

Sta. Lucia matched up Pop Cola’s defensive intensity and forced a one-game deadlock in their own semis duel with a 77-69 win in the second game.

"I’ve read what coach Chot Reyes said to the sportswriters about their only chance to beat us is to play good defense. But that’s what I also feel...I think we need to play good defense to beat them," said Sta. Lucia coach Norman Black.

Lamont Strothers made six triples and finished with 33 points, Danny Ildefonso got away with a double-double job with 16 points and 12 rebounds while Olsen Racela and Dorian Peña chipped in 11 points and 10 rebounds, respectively, to lead the San Miguel charge last night.

Danny Seigle, in his second game since returning from sick bay, played extended minutes — 25 — but struggled on the court, going 2-of-9 from the field and 2-of-4 from the stripe.

That’s something Shell coach Perry Ronquillo couldn’t say minus two key players — Benjie Paras and Dale Singson — in his regular nine-man rotation.

Ronquillo practically shuffled only seven players and by the time the fourth quarter started, they appeared to be a spent force, slowly fading away in the contest.

The Turbo Chargers trailed by only a point, 40-41, at halftime and were behind by a single basket, 60-62, at the end of the third quarter.

But when the Beermen stepped up their game in the final canto, the Turbo Chargers couldn’t keep pace. San Miguel ripped the game open at 77-63 and ran the show from thereon.

Askia Jones erupted for 30 points but the Shell import lost energy in the payoff quarter, scoring eight inconsequential points.

Outside of Jones, only Mike Hrabak got to score in the final quarter with two points.

Shell earlier fought San Miguel through nine deadlocks and four lead changes with Rob Wainwright and Chris Jackson supporting Jones on offense. The two Fil-Ams combined for 21 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.