TEHRAN – San Miguel-RP Team finally found its groove and beat Bahrain’s Al Muharraq, 99-80, Wednesday to make the quarterfinals in the 18th FIBA Asia Champions Cup at the Azadi Stadium here.
Danny Seigle endured a sprained right ankle and scored 20 points while three other Nationals, led by Asi Taulava’s 18 points and 14 rebounds, also turned in double figures in a game they dominated from the start.
“This game is like letting out all our frustrations, you know?” said Seigle, his ankle injured in Monday’s loss to Kazakhstan’s Astana Tigers heavily wrapped in ice after the game.
The win was the first in four games for the Nationals, but enough to make them the third and last qualifier from Group B to Friday’s quarterfinals.
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All because of the fact, RP coach Chot Reyes pointed out, his team finally went up against an opponent that didn’t have a dominant import like the seven-footers from Iran, Kzakhstan and Syria.
“They (Bahrain imports) are quietly efficient and blue collar workers, much like taller versions of a (Alaska import) Rosell Ellis. But our discrepancy in size is not that big and that’s the only opening we needed,” he said.
Six-foot-seven A.M. Akintunde had 21 points and 12 rebounds but fellow African reinforcement, 6’10 S.B. Edeghe, only had 13 points and five rebounds against the defense anchored on Taulava and Rico Villanueva.
“I also like going up against 7-footers. But if they’re a bit shorter it’s still fine by me,” said the 6’9 Taulava, with 6’6 Villanueva the shortest among the centers in this tournament.
Thursday is a rest day for the tournament, but not for the Nationals who have squeezed in a tune-up game with the Iran National team that has a 7’5 center and two 6’11s.
Reyes said it is part of his team’s buildup for next week’s SEABA tournament and July’s FIBA Asia Men’s championship. “We may be meeting the same Iranian team in the FIBA Asia so better to get a feel of them now,” he said.
The Nationals must make do without Tony dela Cruz, who was added to the injured list when he suffered a left ankle sprain just seconds after being fielded in the first quarter.
“I stepped on somebody’s foot and felt my ankle pop,” said the 6-foot-4 forward who was initially diagnosed with a second-degree sprain.
Jimmy Alapag (left ankle) was used sparingly and Mick Pennisi (bruised left knee) was not fielded at all against Bahrain. But Jayjay Helterbrand ably did most of the playmaking chores and Ranidel de Ocampo and Kerby Raymundo were foremost among those who helped patrol the lanes or provide help defense.
The Nationals buried Bahrain with 11 triples before finishing with a 39-for-71 clip from the field.
Ren-Ren Ritualo provided the most sustaining fire by scoring 18 points off the bench.
Those were translated into surges, the most telling when the Nationals unleashed an 18-4 bomb ignited by Ritualo’s eight points that gave them a 61-42 spread and the most lethal capped by Dondon Hontiveros’ four points for their first of three 21-point leads, 89-68.