Pacesetting Beermen subdue Cobras

MANILA, Philippines - Buckling down to serious business in the fourth quarter, San Miguel Beermen nipped Bangkok Cobras, 91-77, to firm up their position atop the standings of the AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League last night at the Ynares Sports Arena.

The Beermen clamped down on the Cobras and held them to only four field goals the entire payoff period, half of them at a time the outcome was long settled, to post their sixth straight victory and 16th overall in 20 outings.

SMB increased its lead against closest rival AirAsia Phl Patriots in the leaderboard to two games after the match.

The Patriots, who came out of a two-game slide by disposing of Saigon Heat last Wednesday, 76-70, gun for their 15th triumph tonight in a PG Flex Linoleum home game against dangerous Westports Malaysia Dragons ( 9-9) also at the Ynares venue.

Veteran guard Roger Yap scored all of his eight points to spearhead a 14-8 salvo that pushed the Beermen safely ahead, 79-68, going into the last 2:38.

“It seems like we’re playing to the level of our competition,” said SMB coach Bobby Parks.

“I think we’re in the process of forming chemistry given the fact we have so many new players who came in recently and everybody’s adjusting. We’re happy with the win but we have to try to get better and better going to the playoffs,” he added.

Nick Fazekas led the Beermen’s assault with 25 points and 15 rebounds while Fil-Am Chris Banchero added 22 points and seven steals and Leo Avenido chipped in 13 markers. Import Duke Crews had 12 points and seven boards.

The Cobras (7-11) made a big run in the third period to wipe out a six-point deficit and seize a slim 59-57 lead. They were still in the thick of things two minutes into the fourth before SMB decided to restore order.

“We woke up and started playing good defense in the fourth quarter,” said Parks.

Gentry Lewis led Bangkok’s scoring parade with 20 points and 17 rebounds, backed up by Marvin Cruz’s 16 markers and six feeds.

Meanwhile, Patriots coach Glenn Capacio said the team needs to win its last three games in the elims in the runup to the semis.

“We have to play real smart in both ends to have that kind of attitude in the playoff,” said the mentor of the team co-owned by businessman Tony Boy Cojuangco and Harbour Centre Harbour Centre CEO and president Mikee Romero.

The Patriots enjoy a 2-0 edge head-to-head with the Dragons but the visiting team handled by Pinoy coach Ariel Vanguardia is on fighting mode especially coming off a 107-84 win over Bangkok last Wednesday. Brian Williams and Tiras Wade, reunited again after separate injuries, both dished off near triple double performances in that rout, where the Dragons set a new benchmark for highest score this season.

“Malaysia has taller players than us. We will play hard on defense and try to maximize our backcourt because I think that’s our advantage,” said Capacio, hoping small men led by Al Vergara will play big to complement the comebacking Nakiea Miller and Anthony Johnson up front.

Vanguardia, for his part, said the Dragons have regained the old cohesion that has made them league leaders early in the tourney.

 “The 31 assists we had against Bangkok really showed what kind of a team we are. Our chemistry was there. We started the season with this team and this is the team we will finish with,” said Vanguardia.