Beermen end Octoberfest with win

ROXAS CITY — San Miguel Beer needed two overtime plays in a road game to score its first win in the San Mig Coffee PBA Fiesta Cup here last night.

The Beermen outlasted the Air21 Express in a slam-bang double-overtime duel, squeezing out a 123-119 decision in an out-of-town setto played before a jampacked crowd at the Capiz Sports Center.

Finally coming up with the needed finishing kick in a close duel, the Beermen nailed their very first win in five starts in the Xtreme Magic Sing-backed import-laced tourney which they won over the Talk n Text Phone Pals the last time.

The Beermen bungled chances to win the game in regulation and in the first overtime but kept their poise and composure and went on to deal the Express a fourth loss against two wins.

Incidentally, it was Air21’s second loss in a double-overtime game in the tourney. The Express bowed to the Alaska Aces in another double-overtime contest last week.

Dorian Peña failed to convert a short stab then Rico Hill missed a follow-up dunk as the game went to a second overtime at 113-113.

The Express gallantly fought back from a five-point deficit in the last two minutes of play to force the first overtime at 104-all.

Meanwhile, due to the overwhelming success of its Give Me 5 promo, the PBA is extending the campaign until December. The promo was intended only until the end of October but the PBA board decided to stretch the promotion drive due to the warm reception it has received from the viewing public.

The league was able to donate P75,000 to the Tuloy sa Don Bosco Foundation because of the promo.