Wilson delivers anew for Shell

Wesley Wilson bucked early fouls and went on to dish out another sterling performance to lead Shell to an emphatic 120-101 win over San Miguel Beer in the Gran Matador PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum last night.

Wilson picked up his fourth foul with eight minutes to go in the third quarter but the former Georgetown Hoya still proved unstoppable, coming through with a near triple-double job as the Turbochargers notched a second straight win and their fourth in six games in all.

"We really found a jewel of an import in Wesley Wilson," said Shell coach Leo Austria.

"He dished out championship performances in our last two games. He went into foul-trouble situation as early as the third period tonight but he made a good job pacing himself. In the end, he still turned out the biggest factor in the game," Austria added.

Picking up from where he left off Wednesday against Coca-Cola when he exploded with 46 points and 16 rebounds, Wilson erupted for 40 points, 18 rebounds, seven assists and four blocks versus erstwhile league joint leader San Miguel.

With the Shell local crew putting in their shares, the Turbochargers set conference records in points (120) and assists (47).

Rich Alvarez fired 20 points to pace four other Turbochargers (Ronald Tubid, Tony dela Cruz, Billy Mamaril and Roger Yap) who also scored in double figures in the contest which was close in the first three quarters of play.

Austria said using a 10-man rotation as against coach Jong Uichico’s six proved to be the key in their fourth-quarter breakaway.

"My instruction to the boys was to keep on running. Alam ko bibigay sila dahil anim lang ang iniro-rotate nila," said Austria.

Actually, Uichico played five players in Chris Burgess, Danny Seigle, Dondon Hontiveros, Nic Belasco and Olsen Racela for 38 minutes or more. Austria, on the other hand, shuffled eight players in Wilson, Alvarez, Tubid, Dela Cruz, Mamaril, Yap, Celino Cruz and Chris Jackson - not counting Adonis Sta. Maria, Carlo Sharma and Ervin Sotto who were fielded in the closing minute.

Uichico missed one key man in his regular rotation on the absence of the injured Dorian Pena.

Though playing short-handed, the Beermen kept the game close in the first 40 minutes of play with Burgess, Seigle, Hontiveros and Belasco carrying the scoring cudgels for the team.

But Wilson himself said enough is enough, unleashing a crucial binge that had Shell spurting away to 105-92 with four minutes left to play.

Curiously, Wilson became even more productive after picking up his fourth foul, scoring 25 points in the final half.