MVP Asi rocks as Beermen roll to Game 1 win over Warriors

MANILA, Philippines – On the night Asi Taulava received his Most Valuable trophy, the ageless Rock delivered a masterful performance that was one for the ages.

The 40-year old Taulava exploded for a game-high 22 points including the San Miguel Beermen’s final six points to power the home team to a 75-70 victory in Game One of the Asean Basketball League (ABL) Finals before a packed Friday night crowd at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City.

The veteran center got plenty of help from the rest of the Beermen, who battled back from an early eight-point deficit and despite getting sub-par offensive games from their imports. 

Val Acuna came off the bench to hit three from downtown and finished with 13 points while Chris Banchero played his best game since returning from a tendon tear in his left quadriceps.

The Fil-Am hotshot scored 15 points and handed down five assists to go with six boards.  Leo Avenido, who got into the nerves of Indonesia Warriors import Chris Daniels, added 12 for the Beermen, who extended their streak to four after their 16-game win streak was snapped in Game One of the semifinals against Rev Sports Thailand Slammers.

Taulava and the rest of the locals picked up the slack for their imports Brian Williams, who struggled for only two points on 1-of-9 shooting, and Justin Williams, who finished with six going 2-of-7 from the field.

With their offense struggling, the pair looked for other ways to help the team. Brian grabbed nine boards and issued five assists while Justin swatted away seven shots and hauled down six rebounds.  

“This game is for our boss Danding Cojuangco, who will celebrate his birthday soon,” said Taulava referring to the San Miguel Corporation top honcho, who will turn 78 on June 10.  

Taulava had 12 points going six for eight from the field in the first half alone helping the Beermen overcome a slow start as they trailed by eight, 17-9, in the opening quarter.

The Beermen drew strength from Taulava as the veteran big man fuelled a 9-2 windup to tie the game at the half, 38-all.

Taulava went on to finish hitting 10 of 14 shots, sinking both his free throws and grabbed 10 boards to move two wins away from getting the championship he coveted when he jumped from the PBA to the emerging professional basketball league in the region at the start of the season.

Things started to fall apart for the Warriors when San Miguel import Justin Williams drew his counterpart Steve Thomas’ fourth foul in the third. Moments later, Daniels picked up an unsportsmanlike foul for elbowing Avenido in a rebound battle.

The Beermen took a 53-48 lead before settling for a four-point lead, 59-55, entering the fourth quarter.

Acuna hit his third triple in the game as the home team opened up a 64-56 lead in the payoff period. Acuna again gave the Beermen their biggest lead of the game, 69-60, with a runner before the Warriors rallied with a six-point barrage to close the gap.

Taulava reserved his best for last killing the Warriors with his personal six-point explosion.

“Coach Todd (Purves) and I predicted a close game during the press conference. We kept that promise,” said San Miguel head coach Leo Austria, who also received his Coach of the Year award before the tip-off.  

The Beermen will try to take a 2-0 lead on Sunday 3pm in the same venue before the series shifts to Indonesia next week.

Thomas still led the Warriors with 20 points and 17 boards despite battling foul trouble. The Warriors’ own Fil-Am star Stanley Pringle put up the same output by Banchero but struggled from the field on 7-of-18 shooting. Daniels and former league MVP Mario Wuysang added 14 and 13, respectively, for Indonesia.