ABL: San Miguel Beermen slaughter Saigon Heat for sweet revenge

After suffering a surprise loss against the Saigon Heat in Vietnam last week, the San Miguel Beermen bounced back big to dispose of the same team, 100-74, on Friday at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City. [Related: Saigon Heat survive San Miguel Beermen OT try]

 

It was a close contest at the start of the game, with Saigon gaining a three-point lead in the opening minutes, but steals from Chris Banchero followed by buckets from Gabe Freeman and Brian Williams made it 16-10 early on. A slam by Dior Lowhorn followed by a trey from Karl Dehesa had Saigon creeping closer, 16-13, but Freeman would have his own five-point swing to re-establish a seven-point lead, 21-14, with 2:06 remaining. Back-to-back hits from Lowhorn made it a three-point game anew, before Chris Banchero hit a buzzer beater jumper to end the first, 25-20.

 

Freeman opened up the second with eight points, before Axel Doruelo drained a floater in the lane to make it a ten-point game, 36-26. The Beermen sustained the lead, until Asi Taulava and Eric Menk took over in the last three minutes, converting freely in the paint.   A pair of hits by Taulava made it an 18-point game, then two of free throws from Banchero had San Miguel up 55-35 at the half.

 

After David Palmer was whistled for a foul and another technical at the 8:21 mark of the third period, Leo Avenido canned four charities to put San Miguel up 60-37. With Freeman creating mismatches at the three spot, while having Taulava, Williams, and Menk inside, Saigon never threatened again. The Heat went behind by as much as 35 in the fourth, after a pair of free throws by Doruelo at the 2:08 mark.

 

Freeman led San Miguel with 21 points and nine boards. Williams added 18 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Taulava had an efficient night, scoring 14 while grabbing nine boards in only 25 minutes of play. Menk also had a productive night out, scoring nine in 14 minutes.

 

Lowhorn carried Saigon with 29 points, while Palmer added 18 and 12 boards. Jai Reyes snapped his double-digit scoring streak, only converting four times from the freethrow line while missing all of his five shots. - AMD, GMA News