AMAZING ASI STARS AS BEERMEN BEAR WARRIORS IN GAME 1 OF ABL FINALS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 08 Jun 2013
Amazing Asi Taulava was the ?Rock? on which the San Miguel Beermen built their Game 1 victory in the Asean Basketball League Finals before a good crowd at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig Friday night.
Taulava who received the MVP Awards prior to the start of the game showed he truly deserved the accolade with a superb all-round performance taking on the imports of the ?Warriors? and showing them that even at 40 years of age he hasn?t lost the fire and the remarkable desire to win.
Taulava finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds and often came to the rescue when it seemed the Indonesians whose mental strength was evident, would pull out a win before a sometimes nervous hometown crowd that cheered every basket Taulava made and every rebound he grabbed.
Asi showed his true worth in the end-game when he scored the last six points to give the Beernen a hard-fought 75-70 win. The veteran center got plenty of help from the rest of the Beermen, who battled back from an early deficit.
The Indonesian Warriors got off to a good start as the Beermen fumbled and took a 13-9 lead at the end of the first five minutes before ending the quarter with a five point spread at 23-18.ead.
The Beernen gutted it out in the second quarter to tie the score at 38-38 at halftime. It was a nip-and-tuck affair at the end of the first five minutes of the third quarter with the score tied at 48-48 before the Beermen edged in front at the end of the third, 59-55.
With five minutes to go the San Miguel Beermen maintained their lead 69-64 before the Warriors mounted a run to take the lead 70-69 before Taulava went to work to help San Miguel win 75-70.
Former collegiate standout Val Acuna came off the bench and immediately made his presence felt with three big triples that gave the Beermen some breathing space. He finished with 13 points.
Fil-Am Chris Banchero appeared to have problems defending fellow Fil-Am Stanley Pringle early in the game but Taulava bailed him out a couple of times by switching and disrupting Pringle?s offensive game.
However, Banchero soon settled down and made some incredible baskets to finish with 15 points to go with 6 rebounds and 5 assists showing no signs of a torn tendon that sidelined him for some time.
Leo Avenido played hard and appeared to get under the skin of Indonesia Warriors import Chris Daniels while contributing 12 points to the Beermen?s tally.
In a post-game interview Taulava greeted San Miguel Corporation chairman and longtime basketball supporter Eduardo ?Danding? Cojuangco saying ?This game is for our boss Danding Cojuangco, who will celebrate his birthday soon.? Cojuangco who for years bankrolled the national team coached by the brilliant American Ron Jacobs that won the ABC Championships in early1986 beating China after beating the US in an epic overtime battle in the Jones Cup in 1985.
?Coach of the Year? Leo Austria along with Warriors coach Todd Purves who was on his feet most of the game, questioning the c alls and perceived non-calls had both predicted a close game with Austria pointing out that they kept that promise.
Game 2 will be played at the same venue on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.
Import Steven Thomas led the Wrriprs with 20 points and 17 big rebounds while Pringle had 15 points, 6 boards and 3 assists. Christopher Daniels, the other Indonesian import finished with 14 points and 7 rebounds while Mano Wuysang contributed 13 points, which included three triples.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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