SMB just a win short of PBA finals

The San Miguel Beeren are just one win away from reaching the finals of the 2006-07 Talk 'N' Text-PBA Philippine Cup after beating the Red Bull Barakos, 111-82, Friday night in Game 5 of their semifinal duel before another SRO crowd at the Araneta Coliseum. Game 6 is set for Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum with the Beermen eyeing a 28th finals appearance since 1975, the most by any franchise. For the fifth consecutive game, Danny Seigle showed the way for the Beermen with 21 points on a 9-of-24 shooting. But it was SMB veterans Olsen Racela and Chris Calaguio who delivered the killer blows each time Red Bull threatened to make a run. SMB got off to a good start and erected a 10-point lead early in the second quarter. The Barakos quickly got back into the game, and a basket by Rich Alvarez, who suffered a cut in his chin after accidentally being elbowed by Romel Adducul, put Red Bull ahead, 33-32. That turned out to be Red Bull’s finall hurrah and the last time to enjoy the driver’s seat. A 14-0 blast by the Beermen turned the complexion of the game around and Red Bull never recovered from there. Dorian Peña scored 10 points, and Chris Calaguio and Seigle had a 3-pointer each during that telling spurt. Usually ferocious and energetic, the Barakos played a flat game and didn’t seem to have the urgency to win. Overall though it was their turnovers and poor shooting that cost them the game. Red Bull committed 18 errors, four more than SMB, which earned 21 points from those miscues. And although the Barakos gained a 22-19 edge off the offensive boards, SMB still had a 21-13 edge in second-chance points. That’s because the Barakos shot just 36 percent from the field (31-of-86) and 15-of-24 from the free-throw line. In contrast, the Beermen connected 45 percent of their attempts (42-of-93) and missed just one of 16 free throws. Cyrus Baguio scored 18 points and Junthy Valenzuela added 16 for the Barakos, who absorbed their second worst loss in franchise history, next only to a 102-68 drubbing also by the Beermen on August 28, 2002 in Game 3 of both teams best-of-five semifinal in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. Last year’s Fiesta Conference Best Player of the Conference Rico Villanueva of Red Bull was held to only two points, his lowest output in the tournament and lowest since finishing with only one point in an 89-85 loss to Coca-Cola April 2 last year in the elims of the previous Philippine Cup. Racela, who is still being hunted of their bitter loss to Red Bull in the previous conference, says they will enter Game 6 with determination and energy to make the Barakos pay back. “We have a score to settle. That’s my mindset coming into this series,” declared the San Miguel Beer veteran guard moments after their victory. The teams were also paired against each other in the Final Four of the same tournament last season with Red Bull eliminating SMB in the deciding Game 7 courtesy of Valenzuela’s buzzer-beating basket. “It’s always a challenge to play against Red Bull,” Racela admits. “Let’s see what happens in Game 6.” Right after their triumphant stint that gave them a 3-2 lead in the series, SMB coach Chot Reyes told his troops to be happy about this win and celebrate but start thinking about Sunday. “By all means we’ll go for it on Sunday,” proclaimed Reyes, proud and happy with the way his big men – Dorian Peña, Romel Adducul and Danny Ildefonso – held their own against their Red Bull counterparts. “Carlo Sharma and Leo Najorda (of Red Bull) really hurt us the last time out and really challenged my big men. I’m happy with how they responded tonight,” Reyes observed. Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra and Talk 'N Text are fighting for a pivotal victory that will shove them one step closer in entering the championship round. The scores San Miguel Beer (111) – Seigle D. 21, Racela 19, Gonzales 16, Calaguio 15, Pena 13, Adducul 10, Ildefonso 10, Hontiveros 3, Espinas 2, Wilson 2, Tenorio 0, Tugade 0 Red Bull (82) – Baguio 19, Valenzuela 15, Fonacier 14, Najorda 9, Alvarez 6, Cruz 5, Pennisi 5, Sharma 3, Robinson 3, Villanueva 2 Quarter scores: 21-15, 49-41, 74-64, 111-82

- GMANews.TV