Galen stand lifts Beermen

San Miguel Beer rode the momentum of its 96-90 win over Welcoat Sunday as it walloped Sta. Lucia Realty, 78-61, last night in a Talk n Text PBA Fiesta Cup road showcase at the Tacloban Convention Center in Tacloban, Leyte.

Improving further on their third game with import Galen Young, the Beermen earned their third win in their last four outings and pulled abreast with the Realtors and the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants at 3-7.

San Miguel finally got out of the cellar, leaving Welcoat alone at the bottom of the standings at 2-7.

Coach Siot Tangquinsen and his troops are hoping to make a big charge in the second round of the eliminations to make it to the upper half of the chart for at least an outright seat in the quarterfinal round.

The team remains well on target with sixth running Coca-Cola just a game ahead at 4-6 and No. 5 Talk n Text two games in front at 5-5.

Showing great determination, the Beermen started with a 12-2 run and dominated the hapless Realtors up to the final buzzer.

The Beermen actually struggled but the Realtors struggled even more. The error-littered first half ended with San Miguel on top by 11 at 34-23.

But the Beermen picked up their game in the third period and pulled away at 54-35 on clutch shots by Young, Olsen Racela and Christian Calaguio.

Danny Ildefonso scored on a dunk with 30 seconds to go and the Beermen closed the third quarter at 60-42.

The Realtors, through the efforts of Denok Miranda, Bitoy Omolon and Norman Gonzales, narrowed the gap to 12 at 56-68 but San Miguel stopped Sta. Lucia’s momentum on a timely timeout with four minutes left in the clock.