San Miguel Beermen is looking good even after injuring franchise player June Mar Fajardo during preseason with a win against back to back All-Filipino cup bridesmaid Magnolia Hotshots behind the heroics of Terrence Romeo, 16 points and Mo Tautuaa, 24 points to get their first win on the opening day of the 45th Philippine Basketball Association ( PBA) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Terrence Romeo who only shot 7 points in the first half, fully showed his offensive skill-set after getting a turnover against Jio Jalalon, giving Jalalon easy 2 points during their 3rd quarter run from a 23-point lead, to a 7-point lead triggering Romeo’s competitve side shutting down Magnolia’s huge comeback and ended the quarter 69-56
Tautuaa on the other hand, Ravaged all-throughout the game with his size and what JMF lacks that he used to give SMB a fighting chance, (His Quickness). Tautuaa scored 12 points in the first half and another 12 in the 2nd, giving him 24 hard fought points.
The unfortunate Magnolia Hotshots who missed too many wide open shots was led by Leethal weapon, Paul Lee who led them with 19 points on balanced scoring through all four quarters with help from new recruit Jackson Corpuz who had a double-double performance of 16 points and 13 rebounds.
The 1st quarter started off with Arwind Santos doing everthing on the floor with 8 points, 2-2 from rainbow country with a steal, a rebound and an assist in a matter of a few minutes. Giving San Miguel a 7-0 run with a jump shot from Romeo forcing Hotshots to pull their first time out.
Magnolia then fought back with Lee’s three, 7-3 which was answered by Santos second three, 10-3 before the Hotshots went on with an 8-point run taking the lead 10-11. The quarter ended 18-a piece after a turnover laden quarter.
The 2nd quarter began with a blow by blow action, both teams not giving an inch to the other giving the fans a tied ball game at 27 points before the Beermen broke the game wide open with an 11-2, the quarter ended 45-33 SMB gaining control of the game.
After the halftime break, the San Miguel Beermen unleashed another deadly 15-4 run not giving any breaks for the Magnolia Hotshots, reaching their biggest lead which is at 23 points, 60-37. The Hotshots then pulled off their last huge hurrah with a whopping 17-1 run reducing the lead to as low as 7, 63-56 before the SMB ended the quarter strong 69-56 with the help from Terrence Romeo.
The Hotshots then couldn’t gain any momentum at the fourth quarter because whatever they throw, SMB always has an answer for them ending the game 94-76 with a great performance from the Beermen even after losing June Mar Fajardo, still the beer is to be feared.
San Miguel Beermen’s next game would be against Rain or Shine this coming Friday, while Magnolia Hotshot’s redemption game would be against Meralco Bolts on March 15.
