SMBeermen play solid with Long

San Miguel Beer pulled off a 93-82 rout of Barangay Ginebra in the Samsung PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Astrodome last night on its first appearance since its tumultuous match with Red Bull last week.

Art Long, fined P50,000 for his involvement in the San Miguel-Red Bull fracas, kept his focus on the game this time, providing an intimidating force for San Miguel although it was the team’s solid game that spelled the difference in its third win in six outings.

While Long flexed his muscles underneath, Shea Seals, Nic Belasco, Dwight Lago and Boybits Victoria did the job from the outside as they dealt the Kings a fifth loss in seven starts.

The Kings suffered a second straight defeat following a 76-86 blowout by the Sta. Lucia Realtors Friday although they finally played with two imports again on the entry of Ike Spencer.

But Spencer hardly made a impression, struggling for only 11 points.

The Kings found no answer on the inside strength of Long and the splendid shooting of the San Miguel gunners, allowing the Beermen to give coach-on-leave Jong Uichico a belated birthday present. The national mentor turned 40 Monday.

The Beermen led by as many as 19 points twice late in the third period. They struck heavily from the outside and went seven-of-11 from the three-point area as they sat on a 47-40 cushion at halftime. Belasco accounted for three of those triples while Seals and Dwight Lago split the rest.

Belasco, Seals and Lago combined for five treys in a 21-8 run that stake the Beerman ahead at 45-34 entering the last two minutes of the first half.

The Kings fought the Beermen on even terms early on with Bal David, Mark Caguioa, James Walkvist, Ben Davis and Ike Spencer getting the team to a decent.

Ginebra and San Miguel figured in six lead changes in the first 12 minutes of the contest with the Kings enjoying the lead for the last time at 26-24 before the Beermen seized control on good outside shooting.

The Kings actually also did well from the longcourt, making four treys out of nine attempts.

Overall, the Beermen shot far better than the Kings though with the former hitting at a 50-percent clip as against the latter’s 41-percent shooting.