ABL: Visiting Heat hand Beermen fourth loss

San Miguel stumbled to its fourth loss in 14 games as the Beermen suffered a 66-63 loss to the visiting Saigon Heat in the 3rd ASEAN Basketball League Saturday night at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City. Jahmar Thorpe and Jonathan Jones had a field day for the Vietnam-based squad scoring 24 and 19 points each as the Heat improved to 4-9 after beaing the second-running San Miguel team (10-4). Lamar Johnson and Leo Avenido tallied 17 markers apiece but the Beermen shot poorly from the floor (25-of-73) including 6-of-30 clip from the three-point range. "I've been telling the guys that they have to be ready to play every night regardless of the record of the opponent because any team can beat anybody," said a disappointed San Miguel Beer coach Bobby Parks. The Heat grabbed a slim 32-30 halftime edge and poured it on in the third with Thorpe hitting back-to-back triples to give the visiting squad a 44-34 spread. The Beermen responded with a 12-0 run to get back in the game even though the Heat took a 48-46 lead after three quarters. Filipino Rob Sanz's split at the free throw line and Thorpe's twinner broke a tie for a 63-60 tally. But Froilan Baguion's three-pointer, in the 1:11 mark, knotted the count once more.  San Miguel, however, failed to score after that with Avenido missing an easy lay-up and fouled Sanz in the process to send him back to the free throw line. Sanz made one-of-two from the line. Jarrid Famous and Baguion missed easy baskets in San Miguel's offensive set and Jones, who grabbed the rebound, was fouled in the final seconds of the match. Jones didn't complete his free throws converting only one but Sanz collected grab the offensive board and earned another trip to the charity stripe. Sanz missed both and Thorpe collected the offensive rebound again for the Heat and made a free throw, 66-63, with eight seconds in the game.   The Beermen failed to extend the game into overtime as Baguion missed a three-pointer. — JVP, GMA News