Returning Freeman helps Beermen end Fiesta Cup skid

Defending champion San Miguel arrested an alarming three-game slide in the PBA Fiesta Cup, hammering out a 99-86 win over Rain or Shine Friday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Gabe Freeman returned to active duty after missing two games and readily showed the way for the Beermen with a conference-high 30 points and a monster 21 rebounds. The Beermen remained in solo second with a 12-5 win-loss card but more importantly, got back on the winning track after losing three straight while bolstering their bid for the remaining outright semifinals berth. “It’s very evident that Freeman’s presence is huge for the team," said interim coach Ato Agustin, who won his first game calling the shots for the reigning Fiesta Cup champions, in Filipino. “It’s a good win for us to end our skid. We still have to take care of business in Dumaguete City against Alaska," he added, obviously referring to the Beermen’s chance of automatically qualifying to the semifinals. Derby Ace (10-5) and Alaska (10-6) are the two other teams in contention for the second outright semis berth. Freeman hardly showed any effects of his two-game absence, reportedly for testing positive to performance enhancing drugs, as he carried the load for the Beermen on both ends of the floor. Last year’s Fiesta Cup best import winner joined hands with Alex Cabagnot in a telling 14-0 run in the final quarter that sealed the win for San Miguel. Cabagnot finished with 12 points, while Dondon Hontiveros was the top local scorer for San Miguel with 17. The loss ended Rain or Shine’s (7-9) chances of making the quarterfinals and will now have to go through the wild card phase of the season-ending meet. Jai Lewis played perhaps his final game with the Elasto Painters, finishing on double-doubles with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Sol Mercado and Gabe Norwood added 21 and 14 points, respectively, for Rain or Shine which lost for the third straight time. – JVP, GMANews.TV