SMB emerges No. 1 in Bangkok

MANILA, Philippines - San Miguel Beer grounded AirAsia Philippines in the fourth quarter and fashioned out an 84-76 victory to capture the “To Be Number One Basketball Challenge” crown in Bangkok last Sunday.

The Beermen outscored the Patriots in the early going of the payoff period with import Richard Jeter scoring five in a 7-0 run to pull away en route to victory that augured well for the team’s debut in the third AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League firing off Jan. 14.

After a see-saw battle in the first quarter, the Beermen came through with several spurts to take a 41-33 lead at halftime. The Patriots came to within one, 56-57, at the end of the third but the Beermen unleashed a strong opening kick in the fourth to seize control.

Anthony Johnson and Jun Jun Cabatu fired 17 points apiece while Fil-Am Chris Banchero and Jeter finished with 16 and 14 points, respectively.

Despite the setback, Patriots’ coach Glenn Capacio saw some positive signs he hopes to build on for their bid to reclaim the ABL crown.

“They deserved to win, they have prepared long while we were still trying to jell as a team,” said Capacio.

He, however, vowed to work things out to be ready and be a contender again in the upcoming tournament.

“Our advantage is that we already have an idea on what kind of opposition we would be facing. But we have to prepare better since all teams are very competitive,” Capacio said.

But with the Beermen in the fold, Patriots team manager Erick Arejola said things could be a lot tougher for the Patriots, who ruled the league’s inaugural staging but lost the crown last year.