Beermen topple Patriots for 1st win in 3rd ABL season

The San Miguel Beermen toppled the AirAsia Philippine Patriots, 78-70, to bounce back from an opening-day loss and take their first win in the 3rd ASEAN Basketball League Saturday at the Ynares Sports Arena. The Beermen got 23 points and 11 rebounds from 6-foot-9 Darlon Johnson, who held explosive Patriots import Nakiea Miller to 15 markers. Johnson also had three assists and two blocks. Doug Thomas, San Miguel's other reinforcement, and local Leo Avenido added 14 points each. San Miguel suffered a shock 83-77 overtime defeat against the Westport Kuala Lumpur Dragons in Malaysia last week. "It's a good wake-up call for us. We won the preseason tournament and the guys may have felt that they are unbeatable," said San Miguel Beermen coach and seven-time PBA Best Import Bobby Parks. "I knew it's going to be a tough game for us but the guys played very well. And I take my hat off to the Patriots. They came to play," added Parks. The Patriots dropped their first match of the season after a convincing win over another expansion team Bangkok Cobras. San Miguel proved to be the tougher first-year squad racing to a 21-17 lead in the first period. That advantage ballooned to a 40-32 spread at the half. After the Beermen led by 11 points early in the third, the Patriots came to within five points but Johnson made two straight baskets while Jun Mar Fajardo finished the third with a slam for a 60-50 lead. The Patriots once again threatened at 63-60 but an Avenido three-pointer capped San Miguel's 7-0 spurt, 70-60, with 4:35 left in the game. AJ Johnson led the Patriots with 25 points, Miller also had seven rebounds while Al Vergara added 13 points and seven assists for the Patriots. — JVP, GMA News Scores: