Tigers prey on listless Beermen

Coca-Cola pounced on Paul McMillan’s so-so debut with San Miguel Beer, hacking out an 82-64 victory in their Talk n Text PBA Fiesta Cup road game at the Mindanao Sports and Civic Center in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

Anthony Johnson simply outclassed McMillan and the Tigers slowly pulled away en route to their third win in four games in the season-ending tourney.

Johnson had another solid all-round game with 26 points, 13 rebounds and six assists while McMillan struggled for only 11 points against nine errors.

The Beermen, badly missing the services of RP team members Danny Seigle and Dondon Hontiveros as well as injured stars Lordy Tugade and Danny Ildefonso, suffered a third loss in as many starts.

McMillan came out flat and the Beermen struggled with him, falling behind by 11 at 16-27 four minutes into the second period.

It took clutch baskets from Olsen Racela and Brandon Cablay for San Miguel to draw within four, 33-37, going into the final half.

McMillan went 1-of-8 from the field for three points against six errors in 18 minutes of action in the first half.

The Tigers were just 38 percent from the field while the Beermen worse at 30 percent in the first 24 minutes of play.

Both teams took some time to connect, with the Tigers taking a 16-15 edge at the end of the first period. San Miguel rookie Gabby Espinas, who sat out their last game, re-injured his ankle towards the end of the opening canto.

Meanwhile, Red Bull seeks to sustain its hot start, looking for a fourth straight win as it takes on Barangay Ginebra at the resumption of action at the Araneta Coliseum.

Air21 guns for a third straight victory while Talk n Text goes for a second win in three starts as they play in the 4:05-p.m. opener.