SMB dismantles Mahindra
to improve to 4-0 in PBA
San Miguel Beer, the powerhouse that it is, is looking more and more dangerous as the PBA Commissioner’s Cup wears on.
The obvious reason lies on the Beermen having the best all-Filipino crew that is learning more and more to play sweet music with import Charles Rhodes.
But the biggest factor, as evidenced in a 109-80 demolition of Mahindra in the eliminations on Wednesday night at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay, is that the Beermen have permission to – and that they did in this game – have fun playing.
And it makes the Floodbusters look silly all game.
“I allowed them to laugh (on the court) and enjoy the game,” San Miguel coach Leo Austria said after the lopsided victory, the Beermen’s fourth straight that put them within two more wins of a seat in the playoffs. “But I also told them to stick to our system.
“I was just surprised that the players played so hard while having fun,” he went on after getting four players in twin digits and leading by as large as 34 points in dealing the Floodbusters their fifth defeat in six games. “I can’t say anything else about my players.”
That the Beermen posted the one-sided victory was no surprise, but doing it with reigning three-time MVP June Mar Fajardo playing less than nine minutes and missing all four of his shots and having one turnover can certainly send shock waves to the rest of the field.
“We found the opportunity to rest June Mar and we did,” Austria said. “We want to prepare him for the bigger games, and the first would be the one against Rain or Shine (this Sunday).”
Rhodes scored 20 points, had 18 rebounds and four assists and is slowly but surely turning out to be the import that San Miguel needs.