Coca-Cola wields upset axe on San Miguel

12 Dec 2008

Nic Belasco came up big with the absense of big man Asi Taulava with 23 points and 15 rebounds as the Coca-Cola Tigers scored a 105-91 upset win over the San Miguel Beermen in the 2008-2009 KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

Ronjay Buenafe added 18 points and Mark Macapagal 16 as the Tigers closed in on a wildcard berth with a 6-10 win-loss slate.

“Ang challenge ko sa mga players, wala ang main man. Good thing nag-respond ang lahat, lalo na si Nic,” said Coca-Cola coach Kenneth Duremdes of Belasco, who went 0-for-11 from the field and scored only two points in an 82-90 loss to Talk ‘N Text last Sunday.

“Nu'ng maganda ang ipinakita ni Nic, everybody followed,” added Duremdes, who also got 18 points from Ronjay Buenafe and 16 from Mark Macapagal.

“Very slim na 'yung quarterfinals,” he assessed. “Kaya nga tinitingnan na lang namin ang wildcard.

“Ang sabi ni Asi, kung kailangan maglalaro siya. Pero titingnan muna namin kung kailangan pa siyang palaruin o complete rest na lang siya,” he added.

Jay Washington paced the San Miguel Beermen with 25 points and 13 boards. Lordy Tugade added 21 points and Dondon Hontiveros had 18 points and 6 rebounds for the Beermen, who slipped into a tie for third with idle Rain or Shine with similar 9-7 win-loss marks.

Scores:

Coca-Cola 105 - Belasco 23, Buenafe 18, Macapagal 16, Calimag 9, Dimaunahan 9, Telan 9, Arigo 7, Santos 6, Rizada 4, Cabagnot 4, Misolas 0.

San Miguel Beer 91 - Washington 25, Tugade 21, Hontiveros 18, Baguion 7, Bono 6, Villanueva 5, Gonzales 4, Racela 3, Custodio 2, Eman 0, Pennisi 0.

Quarterscores: 23-24, 49-55, 77-73, 105-91.