Alaska extends San Miguel's woes -- April 11, 2007

Alaska extends San Miguel’s woes

By JAY R. GOTERA
MANILA
ALASKA drubbed San Miguel, 94-84, Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum to
join Red Bull and Barangay Ginebra at the top of the standings in the PBA Fiesta Conference with a 6-2 card.

The loss was the seventh for the Beermen against a single win as they hugged the bottom of the standings.

San Miguel’s highly touted import, Galen Young, struggled throughout the game, scoring only 12 points. It was far from the expectation of San Miguel’s management since Young came fresh from a championship with the Yakima Sun Kings in the Continental Basketball Association in the United States wherein he was adjudged the Most Valuable Player.

Willie Miller led Alaska with 25 points.

Rosell Ellis, whom Alaska chose to recruit for this conference after Young refused to return to the team he first played for in the 2004 Fiesta Conference, played splendid basketball on both ends of the court, finishing with 23 points, 18 rebounds, eight assists, two shotblocks and one steal. He was also responsible for handcuffing Young who shot a terrible 4-for-23 from the field.

With six players scoring eight points or more, Alaska led by as much as 20 points early in the fourth period.

The Beermen, who had six players finishing in double figures led by the 13 of rookie L.A. Tenorio, rallied and came to within seven points with four minutes left in the game. But Ellis came through with a rare triple – his first in the conference in only his second attempt overall – to douse cold water on the SMB rally.

In the first game, Sta. Lucia downed Coca-Cola, 103-100, as the Realtors proved to have gotten the better end of a five-player trade deal with the Tigers.

Former Tiger Denok Miranda anchored Sta. Lucia’s attack, scoring 13 points and providing the much needed hustle and spunk for the Realtors.

Rock Winston also had a stellar performance particularly on the defensive end as the Realtors bounced back from a 101-112 defeat against the Barangay Ginebra Kings last Sunday to improve to 3-4.

The Sta. Lucia import led all scorers with 29 points which came with his 11 rebounds, five assists and four steals in 43 minutes – his second best performance in the conference. He capped his standout game by slowing down Coca-Cola import Anthony Johnson and holding him to just six points in the fourth quarter with the game on the line.

The Realtors turned the game around in the final 2:46 using a 9-0 run staring Miranda, Winston and rookie Kelly Williams.

It was a heartbreaking loss for the Tigers who kept the game close and appeared to have it well under control when Ali Peek, who finished with 19 points, gave them an 81-74 lead early in the fourth.

But the Tigers couldn’t hold on.

Johnson finished with a team-best 26 points but had just six in the fourth quarter as the Tigers picked up their fourth straight loss and fifth in eight games overall.

The Tigers -- who gave up Miranda, Manny Ramos and their 2008 second round pick, for Kenneth Duremdes, Alex Cabagnot and Ricky Calimag -- got a combined 31 points from the trio but 19 turnovers – six in the fourth canto -- cost them the game.

The scores:

First Game
Sta. Lucia 103 – Winston 29, Williams 20, Espino 17, Miranda 3, Omolon 10, Gonzales 5, Aquino 4, Catli 3, Bughao 2, Isip 0, Santos 0, Mendoza 0.
Coca-Cola 100 – Johnson 26, Peek 19, Cabagnot 14, Calimag 11, Arigo 11, Antonio 10, Duremdes 6, Tolomia 3, Avenido 0.
Quarterscores: 26-20, 48-47, 74-76, 103-100.

Second Game

Alaska 94 – Miller 25, Ellis 23, Cariaso 12, Thoss 10, Hugnatan 8, Belasco 8, Laure 6, Ferriols 2, Aban , Bajar 0, Juinio 0.
San Miguel Beer 84 – Tenorio 13, Young 12, Calaguio 12, Ildefonso 12, Racela 10, Pena 10, Wilson 8, Gonzales 5, Cablay 2, Espinas 0, Adducul 0, Adriano 0.

Meanwhile in Carson City, California, Team Philippines, showing off a potential 12th player in George Mason University standout Gabe Norwood, posted win No. 3, beating a selection of American amateur players and aspiring pros, 98-74, before a crowd of close to 300 Filipino-Americans at the Home Depot Center.

Starting with the same unit as the last game, the Nationals raced to a quick 12-0 lead, forcing the opposing coach to call an early timeout. Inspired by the presence of his relatives, Mark Caguioa opened up scoring with a three-point shot, before Asi Taulava and Ranidel de Ocampo took turns attacking the hoop for that dozen-point spread.

The Americans came back strong behind CCA all-conference member Johntae Vincent and ABA veteran Phil Givens to close out the first-quarter down by only 30-24.

Shortly before the quarter ended, Norwood entered the game and immediately made his presence felt via a thunderous slam off a behind the back pass from Jimmy Alapag. Norwood went on to score on a variety of jumpers while running the offense.

The combination of Norwood, Danny Seigle, Caguioa, Mick Pennisi and Kerby Raymundo conspired to tow the Philippines to a commanding 58-42 advantage at halftime.
The Americans never got any closer the rest of the way as Team Philippines continued applying the pressure until the final buzzer.

The scores:

RP-San Miguel – Seigle 21, Caguioa 18, Pennisi 13, de Ocampo 11, Helterbrand 10, Taulava 8, Norwood 8, Raymundo 4, Alapag 4, dela Cruz 2, Ritualo 2. (Hontiveros DNP due to injury)
US Selection – Vincent 21, Givens 15, Bewer 10, Yamatz 8, Bryant 8, Meiller 4, Rivers 4, Lawrence 4, Hamilton 0.