Beermen seize 2-1 semis lead vs rugged Whoppers

MANILA, Philippines – Burger King wanted to surprise San Miguel Beer by coming out ready for a highly-physical game. But the Beermen were simply prepared for it. Gabe Freeman scattered 22 of his 35 points in the second half, and San Miguel held Burger King to another nightmarish night from the field goal in scoring a 100-88 victory in the rugged Game 3 Sunday, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-7 semifinals series in the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum. Freeman scored 10 of San Miguel Beer’s final 13 points and ended up as the key figure who thwarted the Whoppers’ comeback down the stretch as the Beermen rebounded magnificently from a 116-113 defeat in Game 2. “When the stakes get higher, it’s normal na magkaroon ng pisikal na laro. We are ready for this kind of situation," said San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen. The Beermen held Burger King to only 35.8 shooting from the field (29-for-81), and didn’t panic when the Whoppers nearly succeeded in overhauling a 22-point lead with a blistering assault in the fourth quarter. What stood as a near-insurmountable 55-33 advantage got chopped down to within 82-77 after JR Quinahan hit five straight points with 5:28 left in the game. But Mick Pennisi, who only scored seven points, knocked down a crucial triple to ease off some pressure before Freeman took charge the rest of the way. He sealed the outcome after completing a three-point play with 60 seconds left, giving the Beermen a 94-83 lead. Freeman also pulled down 16 rebounds, while Jonas Villanueva added 15 points and Olsen Racela had 12. Reflecting how physical and rugged the series was, the game took a frightening turn in the second quarter when blood dripped from Wesley Gonzales’s forehead after receiving a hard foul from Mark Yee as he drove strong to the basket in a fastbreak play. Yee was slapped with a flagrant foul 2 while Gonzales got a technical after shoving Yee hard with an open left hand. Still, that ugly incident at the 9:39 mark before halftime and with the Beermen on top 36-25 did not, in any way, crack San Miguel’s focus. Arwind Santos led the Whoppers with 22 points. He, however, didn’t get the much-needed support. Gary David was held scoreless for the first time in his last 63 games, or since May 7 of last year in the elimination round of the Fiesta Conference when the team, then still known as Air21, beat Ginebra, 97-88. Asked afterwards why David was limited to 12 minutes of action, coach Yeng Guiao said that the Burger King guard was a liability on defense. Although performing tremendously off the boards with 18 rebounds, Shawn Daniels was a player very much missed on offense. He only posted eight points across his name. He also had nine assists. – GMANews.TV