The Beermen went on a rampage in an eight-minute stretch bridging the last two quarters and coasted to their sixth straight victory, the team’s longest run since making an 8-0 win-loss start in the 2004 Fiesta Cup.
Danny Seigle, Danny Ildefonso and Dorian Pena all scored over 20 points, leading the Beermen to the triumph over the Express who eliminated them in their wildcard playoff duel in the most recent tourney.
"I was worried coming into this game because of the long break. I gave the boys couples of days off. When they came back in practice, they seemed to have lost their focus. I’m glad they proved me wrong," said San Miguel coach Jong Uichico.
"They took it upon themselves to prepare themselves the hardest they can. The players are finding ways to motivate themselves," Uichico added.
But Uichico remained wary of the long grind ahead. "It’s too early in the tournament. There would still be lots of things that would happen along the way," he said.
Uichico’s fears aren’t unfounded. The last time they dominated a tourney — in the 2004 Fiesta Cup with Art Long as import, they fell short of their target as they encountered numerous problems in the playoffs.
Seigle lived up to his billing as the tourney’s scoring leader, erupting for 26 points as the Beermen improved their league-leading record to 8-2.
Ildefonso added 23 and Pena chipped in 22 for the Beermen who dealt the Express their seventh loss against three wins.
The Express put up a tough challenge in the first half but faded away as the Beermen stepped up their bid towards the end of the third, closing the period with a rapidfire 16-2 run.
The Beermen sustained that attack in the next period, starting the last quarter with an 11-3 romp to erect a 96-77 lead with time down to nine minutes. Dondon Hontiveros and Brandon Cablay also scored in double figures for the Beermen.
The Express, meanwhile, were paced by Wynne Arboleda with 23 with Renren Ritualo adding 17, Nino Canaleta and Ranidel de Ocampo 15 apiece and Ronald Tubid 12. Cablay and Tubid traded hard fouls and nearly figured in a fight at endgame.