BY NOLI CORTEZ
TEHRAN. – San Miguel-RP Team finally found
its groove and beat Bahrain’s Al Muharraq 99-80 Wednesday to
advance to the quarterfinals of the 18th FIBA Asia Champions
Cup at the Azadi Stadium here.
Grittily bucking a sprained right ankle,
Danny Seigle scored 20 points while three others, led by Asi
Taulava who had 18 points and 14 rebounds, also turned in
double figures in a game they mostly dominated from the start.
"This game is like letting out all our
frustrations," said Seigle, his ankle injured in Monday’s loss
to Kazakhstan’s Astana Tigers heavily wrapped in ice after the
game.
The win, just the first in four games for
the Nationals, made them the third and last qualifier from
Group B to Friday’s quarterfinals.
RP coach Chot Reyes pointed out his team
finally went up against an opponent that didn’t have a
dominant, seven-foot import like those from Iran, Kazakhstan
and Syria.
"They (Bahrain imports) are quietly
efficient and blue collar workers, much like taller versions
of a (Alaska import) Rosell Ellis. But our discrepancy in size
is not that big and that’s the only opening we needed," he
said.
Six-foot-seven A.M. Akintunde had 21 points
and 12 rebounds but fellow African reinforcement 6-foot-10 S.B.
Edeghe only had 13 points and five rebounds against the
defense anchored on Taulava and Rico Villanueva.
"I also like going up against 7-footers.
But if they’re a bit shorter it’s still fine by me," said the
6-foot-9 Taulava, with the 6-foot-6 Villanueva the shortest
among the centers in this tournament.
Thursday is a rest day for the tournament,
but not for the Nationals who have squeezed in a tune-up game
with the Iran National team that has a 7-foot-5 center and two
players standing at 6-foot-11.
Reyes said it is part of his team’s buildup
for next week’s SEABA tournament and July’s FIBA Asia Men’s
championship. "We may be meeting the same Iranian team in the
FIBA Asia so better to get a feel of them now," he said.
The Nationals must make do without Tony
dela Cruz, who got added to the list of their injured when he
suffered a left ankle sprain just seconds after being fielded
in the first quarter.
"I stepped on somebody’s foot and felt my
ankle pop," related the 6-foot4 forward who was initially
diagnosed with a second-degree sprain.
Jimmy Alapag (left ankle) was used
sparingly and Mick Pennisi (bruised left knee) was not fielded
at all against Bahrain. Jayjay Helterbrand ably did most of
the playmaking chores and Ranidel de Ocampo and Kerby Raymundo
were foremost among those who helped patrol the lanes or
provide help defense.
