Beermen rally to end Indons’ streak in ABL

Games on Friday (Tan Binh Stadium, Vietnam)

2 p.m. – Indonesia Warriors vs Chang Thailand Slammers

4:30 p.m. – Singapore Slingers vs San Miguel Beermen

7 p.m. – Saigon Heat vs Westports Malaysia Dragons

MANILA, Philippines - Chris Banchero exploded in the third quarter while JR Cawaling and rookie Jeric Fortuna provided solid support as San Miguel Beer halted Indonesia’s streak with a come-from-behind 57-52 win in the Asean Basketball League at Tennis Indoor Senayan in Jakarta Friday night.

The catquick Banchero rifled in 11 of his 19 points in the third as the Beermen wiped out an 11-point deficit and turned things around en route to their third straight win and 6-3 overall.

Complementing him were Cawaling, who unleashed a breakout game with 16 points on three triples, and Fortuna, a fresh recruit from UST, who contributed five points and five rebounds in a 22-minute debut to offset the absence of injured Gabe Freeman and Leo Avenido and the foul woes of Brian Williams (11 points).

“Against Indonesia, it’s always a defense-oriented, low scoring game. They played well on defense but fortunately, despite our lack of big men, some of the players stepped up and we’re able to pull off the win,” said SMB coach Leo Austria, whose wards snapped the seven-game roll of the Warriors (7-3) while avenging their 96-98 overtime loss last time around at home.