Banchero takes charge as SMB trips Singapore

MANILA, Philippines - Fil-Am Chris Banchero dished out a superb all-around performance as San Miguel Beer routed Jobstreet.com Singapore, 66-55, to move to solo second behind Indonesia in the ASEAN Basketball League at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore last night.

Banchero came away with 16 points and finished with five assists, four rebounds and the same number of steals in a game the Beermen dominated from start to finish behind their sleek running game and stinging interior defense.

Fil-Tongan Asi Taulava powered his way to 10 points and 13 rebounds while helping contain the Slingers’ power-playing imports Kyle Lee Jeffers and Rashad Jones-Jennings.

Jeffers and Jones-Jennings did combine for 28 points and 28 rebounds but they were not enough to rally the Slingers to victory.

It was San Miguel Beer’s fourth win against three losses while dealing Singapore its fourth loss against the same number of victories.

The Warriors lead the way with a 6-2 (win-loss) card.

The win also made up for SMB’s heartbreaking 76-82 setback to the Westport Malaysian Dragons last week, negating Banchero’s 20-point effort.

The Slingers actually seized an early 9-4 lead as Wei Jie Desmond Oh scored on a feed by Jeffers. But Banchero, Taulava and Matt Rogers conspired in a big 18-3 blitz that saw the Beermen race to a 22-12 lead at the end of the opening quarter.