PBA: San Miguel suffocates Talk 'N Text, takes Game One of semis series

The San Miguel Beermen shut down the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters to take Game One of their best-of-seven semifinals series, 109-86, on Friday at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

June Mar Fajardo led San Miguel with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Arwind Santos had 21 points and eight boards. The two combined for a 15 of 24 shooting clip. Alex Cabagnot had an all-around game off the bench wth 13 markers, six boards and six assists. Marcio Lassiter had 10 points and eight rebounds.

"Before the game, I was really nervous. Mixed emotions [because] it's my first game in the semis," said San Miguel head coach Leo Austria. "I was surprised coz they had a good start. This is just one game. I'm sure that they will bounce back."

After going down in the first, 27-20, the Beermen suffocated TNT on the defensive end in the second quarter, allowing just nine points while scoring 33 to build a 53-36 lead at the half. The Texters mainly lived on freethrows, struggling for just one basket - a Jay Washington make- on 15 attempts.

With San Miguel clogging the shaded lane and the Texters missing from the perimeter, the lead ballooned to 30 points after a Cabagnot trey, 74-44. Ranidel De Ocampo tried to lead a late comeback, forcing the issue for trips to the line.

The Texters were able to bring it down to 21 points after a Harvey Carey split, but Alex Cabagnot and June Mar Fajardo did enough damage to bump the lead back up to 25, 81-56, entering the final quarter.

In the payoff period, San Miguel led by as much as 33 points after a drive by Jeric Fortuna, 103-70. Before the final buzzer, the game was stopped at the 1:41 mark, when David Semerad and Danny Seigle figured into a scuffle. The two players where slapped with Flagrant 1 fouls.

TNT relied heavily on Ranidel De Ocampo, and the big man did not disappoint with 20 points. Danny Seigle added 17. None of the Texters' starters scored in double figures, with Jay Washington scoring nine. — Renee Fopalan/JST, GMA News

The scores:

SAN MIGUEL BEER 109 - Fajardo 23, Santos 21, Cabagnot 13, Lassiter 10, Lutz 7, Tubid 7, Pascual 6, Kramer 5, Semerad 5, Fortuna 4, Omolon 4, Maierhofer 2, Chua 2, Ross 0.

TALK N' TEXT 86 - De Ocampo 20, Seigle 16, Washington 9, Alapag 7, Rosser 7, Castro 6, Alas 5, Espiritu 5, Williams 4, Carey 3, Fonacier 3, Reyes R.J. 1, Reyes R. 0, Aban 0.

Quarterscores: 20-27, 53-36, 81-56, 109-86