Beermen rip Realtors, keep crack at Magic 4

Danny Ildefonso, a top candidate for the season’s Most Valuable Player award, displayed MVP form at crunchtime and San Miguel Beer repulsed Sta. Lucia Realty, 81-76, last night to keep a shot at a slot in the PBA Governors Cup Magic Four at the Araneta Coliseum.

Ildefonso scored only 12 points but made six in the final four minutes and came up with crucial rebounds, assists and defensive stops in the same stretch to bail the Beermen out of trouble in the crucial contest.

Snapping a two-game run to close out their elimination round stint with a 7-6 (win-loss) record, the Beermen gain a Top Four finish and a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals if sister team Purefoods Hotdogs win over the Red Bull Thunder at the close of the elims on Wednesday.

The Realtors ended their elims campaign with three straight defeats, thus losing a shot at the top seeding in the quarters. Despite their poor windup, the Realtors are guaranteed of at least No. 3 in the next round with an 8-5 card.