Beermen bludgeon Chargers

ANTIPOLO – San Miguel Beer, with its two talented imports blending well with the local crew, came out strong for Shell last night, hacking out an emphatic 93-70 victory that moved the team closer to the Samsung PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals at the Yñarez Center here.

It was a masterful performance that had the Beermen settling the outcome of the game right in the first half.

Taking a 53-30 bulge at the turn, the Beermen showed no mercy on the hapless Turbochargers as they even poured on the heat in the second half, leading by as many as 34 points at one point before completing the big demolition job.

That was San Miguel’s fourth win in seven games that carried the team to the doorstep of the quarters. More importantly, the victory enhanced the Beermen’s bid for the Top Four which guarantees a twice-to-beat incentive in the next round.

"Maybe, the law of averages is on our side. Shell won its last three games and in the PBA, it’s hard to do that run," said San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen as they sent the Turbochargers crashing back to earth.

Shell moved down to eighth place with a 3-4 win-loss record.

The Beermen ripped the game wide apart, 83-49, in the third quarter with Art Long riding the bench with four fouls, including one slapped on him during a deadball situation with 7:50 left in the period.

"It was supposed to be a delay of game but I’d never seen a call like that in my life," said the hulking import in questioning that particular call after the game.

Long, prone to getting into foul-trouble situation, said he’s been getting much of the attention of the referees because he was dead serious during a match.

"But that’s not temper. I just don’t smile because I came here to play," he said.

Though his playing time limited to 24 minutes because of fouls, the NBA veteran tallied game-high 25 points and 14 rebounds. The downside was the 10 errors he committed in the contest.

Red Bull virtually gained a spot in the Top Four for a twice-to-beat privilege in the quarters as the Thunder defeated the slumping Selecta Philippine Team, 75-51, in the nightcap.

The Thunder solidified their hold of the lead with a 6-1 slate while the Nationals slid to 2-5.