FORMER Ateneo star Ford Arao finally delivered yesterday as
San Mig Coffee outlasted Toyota Otis 68-64 and clinched the fourth and last
semis berth in the PBL Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup at the Oreta Sports Center in
Malabon City.
With the Coffee Kings protecting a slim 64-60 lead, Arao
scored on two crucial-packed charities to seal the win, enabling San Mig to make
a return trip to the semis since winning a title in the 2005 season while
carrying the banner of Magnolia.
Bonbon Custodio and Neil Raneses led the Coffee Kings with 18
and 17 points while Arao added 10 points, the same output of JP Alcaraz whose
back-to-back baskets early in the fourth quarter fueled a 6-0 run that gave San
Mig a 59-51 lead.
The best the Sparks could do was cut San Mig’s lead to 64-60.
San Mig Coffee faces a bigger challenge in the next round
when it battles Harbour Centre. Hapee Toothpaste, which finished No. 2 at the
end of the double-round elims, battles Burger King in the other semis match
tomorrow in Tarlac.
This will be the first time the country’s premier amateur
basketball league will be playing in Tarlac City, thanks to the support of
Philippine Olympic Committee spokesman Joey Romasanta, Tarlac City Mayor Genaro
Mendoza and City Sports Development officer Arnold Rodriguez.
"The coming of the PBL in Tarlac will be a big boost to the
city’s sports development program. We welcome the players, coaches and officials
of the PBL in Tarlac," said Romasanta, who is from Tarlac.
San Mig coach Koy Banal said the win was largely due to their defensive
efforts on Patrick Cabahug and Jonathan Aldave who were limited to a combined
six points. Cabahug was ejected late in the third quarter for an unsportsmanlike
foul on Custodio.
