Beermen rout visiting Thai Slammers

MANILA, Philippines - San Miguel Beer unleashed a first half blitz, built enough cushion and weathered a late, furious rally by the Chang Thailand Slammers to fashion out a 92-77 victory that sent it closer on top in the Asean Basketball League at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

Over at the Mahaka Square in Jakarta, Indonesia, Air Asia Patriots edged a tough Indonesia Warriors, 72-68, to seize the solo lead with an 8-2 (win-loss) card.

The Warriors fell to their seventh loss against four wins.

Leo Avenido fired 28 points he laced with four triples while Darlon Lamar Johnson came through with 25 points highlighted with several rim-rattling slams as the Beermen nailed their eighth win against three defeats.

The two drew support from Jarrid Famous, who bounced back from a pair of forgettable efforts with 18 points, the bulk coming in the first half when San Miguel set the tone for the rout.

Famous, who was sent back home by the Meralco Bolts in the PBA but returned to backstop San Miguel, didn’t score a point in his first outing in a come-from-behind 81-77 win over the Indonesia Warriors last Feb. 29 also at the Ynares Center and just 13 points in a fight-marred 68-66 win over the Air Asia Patriots at The Arena in San Juan City last week.

He was a different man this time.

“He’s trying to blend with the team in the first two games and now he’s starting to get familiar with how the team plays,” said San Miguel coach Bobby Parks Sr., a many-time PBA Best Import.

The Beermen also got a boost from the arrival of seasoned pro Roger Yap, who played 16 minutes and finished with solid numbers – four points, three asists and a steal– in his first game in a San Miguel uniform.

The Beermen erected their biggest lead of the game at 82-52 on a triple by Avenido but the Slammers came roaring back with an 18-2 blitz that cut the latter’s deficit to just 12 points, 70-82, with 2.20 minutes to go.

It turned out to be their last as San Miguel put on the finishing touches to put the game out of reach.