Beermen drop fight-marred game vs Pilots

MANILA, Philippines — Visitors Taoyuan Pauian Pilots handed San Miguel Beer its second straight loss, 101-85, in a fight-marred East Asia Super League game at the PhilSports Arena last night.

The Pilots detonated a 32-13 bomb in the second period to create early separation then fended off every uprising Beermen mounted in the Group A showdown that saw Jericho Cruz being ejected after a skirmish with Taoyuan’s Alec Brown.

The P.League+ club was well ahead at 86-68 at the 6:32 mark of the fourth when the incident happened.

Cruz fouled a posting Brown who then tried to elbow the Fil-Guamanian. SMB import Quincy Miller then pushed Brown. As other players, officials and referees separated those involved in the fracas, Cruz sneaked in a punch at Brown.

Upon review, Brown was assessed a technical, Miller an unsportsmanlike foul and Cruz was meted a disqualifying foul.

The Pilots went on to complete a 16-point romp that followed up their earlier 91-70 demolition of Suwon KT Sonicboom and lifted them to a share of the lead with the Hiroshima Dragonflies.

The Beermen, who opened their campaign with an 87-81 defeat to Suwon, joined Hong Kong Eastern (0-2) at the cellar.

Seven-foot Brown topscored for the victors with 27 as Traevor Graham and skipper Lu Chun Hsiang shot 25 apiece.

Miller paced SMB with 32 with Don Trollano as the other player in double figures with 13.