Asi gives Beermen 1-0 lead

MANILA, Philippines - Asi Taulava hit two huge baskets in the endgame as San Miguel Beermen nipped Indonesia Warriors, 75-70, and took a 1-0 lead in their Asean Basketball League best-of-five finals last night at Ynares Sports Arena.

Putting up a monster performance on the night he was crowned MVP, the 40-year-old Taulava spiked his 22-point production with a clutch layup and jumper in the last 51 seconds as the Beermen quashed the Warriors’ uprising and drew first blood against the defending champions.

“Asi really showed why he’s MVP,” said coach Leo Austria of his veteran, who went 10 of 14 from the field and also grabbed 10 rebounds.

The Beermen will gun for a 2-0 lead tomorrow when they host Game Two in the same venue.

“Indonesia will surely make adjustment for the next game so we expect it to be harder,” said Austria.

The Beermen asserted themselves starting from the late stages of the second quarter, when Val Acuna and Taulava got things going and helped them wipe out a seven-point deficit and tied it all up at the turn.

Acuna (13 points highlighted by three triples) and Jeric Fortuna  (five markers) took charge in a fourth-quarter spurt that allowed the Beermen to go up by nine, 69-60, entering the last 5:35.

Indonesia, however, fought back and with Steven Thomas taking the lead, threatened to within 71-68.

Taulava then rose to the occasion and bailed SMB out of trouble.

“The Rock’s” drive in layup restored a five-point spread with 51 seconds left. Stanley Pringle scored on Indonesia’s end to cut the SMB lead only to be neutralized by Taulava’s jumper that gave the home side a 75-70 cushion with 16.3 seconds left.

Chris Banchero added 15 points and Leo Avenido chipped in 12 for SMB. Justin Williams only had six markers but swatted away seven of Indonesia’s shots.

Thomas paced the Warriors with 20 points and 17 rebounds while Pringle and Chris Daniels added 15 and 14, respectively.