Sunday, October 5, 2008

San Miguel Beermen Basketball Games Updates Website


Greetings San Miguel Beermen basketball fans!

In an effort to be of more service to all the millions of SMB fans around the world, I am transferring this blogsite to a more flexible platform. The new website or blogsite will now use a registered domain name in sanmiguelbeermen.com. The hosting will no longer be in Blogger and now uses a more powerful blogging platform in WordPress.

Please update your bookmarks and links if ever you place this under your favorite websites. All contents on this website are all essentially being transferred to the new one so you will not miss anything since the 2008 pre-season.

Thank you for your patronage and support. I hope to see you more on my new website located here.

San Miguel Beermen Basketball Games Updates

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Thursday, October 2, 2008

Yeng Guiao Picks SMB as One of the Favorites, PBA Philippine Cup Starts on Saturday

Photo Credit: Manila Standard Today

With the strong lineup that the San Miguel Beermen will be bringing in to the next season, its no wonder that Red Bull and National Team basketball coach Yeng Guiao picked them as one of the teams to beat.

For me, whether SMB is considered as one of the team to be does not provide any guarantee that these will translate to winning games or championship. SMB should be doing things differently so that they will not suffer the same fate as last year's conference where they just finished at the middle of the pack.

So what's your take on today's new look SMB? Feel free to leave your comments.

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PBA Philippine Cup blasts off Saturday

Source: INQUIRER.net
By Musong R. Castillo | October 2, 2008

Everything is in place for Season 34 of the Philippine Basketball Association with most of the old, powerhouse basketball teams expected to figure prominently in the Philippine Cup that starts on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

National basketball coach Yeng Guiao picked Alaska, San Miguel Beermen and Talk 'N Text as the teams to beat, while also listing reigning titlist Sta. Lucia Realty highly and putting a modest goal for his Red Bull basketball crew.

Guiao, who was named the RP basketball coach last week, also cautioned everyone of the breakout tournament for Rain Or Shine, which will play its third season in the basketball league and would want to crash the playoffs for the first time.

"This could be the breakout basketball season for Rain Or Shine," Guiao, the only basketball coach present in the formal launch Wednesday at the Diamond Hotel in Manila, said. "While for us, our goal would be to make the semifinals."

Red Bull has made it to the semifinals in each of the last seven basketball tournaments, a modern day record and one which Guiao would be hard-pressed to extend considering how the other teams beefed up and how his Barako has been decimated yet again by lopsided trades.

But the crowd will only get to see the Elasto Painters on Sunday as the Tropang Texters, which Talk 'N Text will be known from now on, take the lid off of the season when it clashes with Coca-Cola in the only basketball game scheduled.

On Sunday, San Miguel tackles Alaska after Air21, runner-up to Barangay Ginebra in the Fiesta Cup, battles the Gabe Norwood-led Rain or Shine crew at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

A total of seven provincial basketball games are scheduled, with some games slated at non-traditional playing venues like the Olivarez Gym in Parañaque City, the New Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City and at the San Juan Arena.

Meanwhile, the basketball league is considering going back to the three-conference format next year.

"We have just started to discuss it, and there's no definite decision on it yet," said Joaqui Trillo of Alaska, this year's chair of the board.

Commissioner Renauld Barrios has been batting for the three-conference format since assuming office last season.

In a related development, the ball hogging violation has been extended to five seconds from three and starting this conference, only the player with the basketball can call a timeout for a team.

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Wednesday, October 1, 2008

SMC To Use San Miguel Beermen As Team's New Name


I've been always used to hearing San Miguel Beermen as the team's name for years already before it switched to Magnolia Beverage Masters last season. For one, it's a PBA basketball team name used to winning championships in the past.

Will this move by the SMC Management made any difference for the team seeking to regain championship form?

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San Miguel back in the PBA brew

Source: Manila Bulletin Online
October 1, 2008

Veterans Danny Seigle and Olsen Racela couldn't be any happier now that they'll be known as the San Miguel Beermen anew in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

"I think I had better luck as a Beerman," said Seigle.

"I'm always a Beerman through and through," beamed Racela.

The PBA pioneer basketball team always used the name San Miguel Beer ever since it joined the PBA in 1975. San Miguel Beer, the Pale Pilsen variety, is the flagship product of San Miguel Brewery, Inc. (SMB Inc.).

And it's not just the change of name that excites them most.

Going into the PBA Philippine Cup, San Miguel Beer had just acquired three more vital cogs in Mick Pennisi, Jay Washington and Bonbon Custodio in its drive for an 18th title in the basketball league.

Saddled with injuries to most of its stars like Danny Ildefonso and Seigle and coming up short of the final in the recent Fiesta Conference, the trio complements the already-star studded cast by giving it the extra kick.

The 6-foot-11 Pennisi, at 33, remains a feared and hard-nosed defender. Acquired in a celebrated trade recently, Pennisi vows to bring his brand of smart basketball play into the San Miguel Beer system under Coach Siot Tanquincen.

"I'm not at all athletic and we know that athleticism just comes and goes. Although I'm not a high scorer, I can hit open shots, set good screens," said the Fil-Australian.

At his side is a younger 6-foot-8 Jay-Jay Washington, a former No. 1 pick who is destined to fulfill his illustrious billing as a top rookie. Following frustrating years with his former team, J-Wash, as he is called, is ready to start all over again with the Beermen.

"My huge smile should tell you that I'm very happy to be with San Miguel. I haven't had my A game after I was drafted and it was truly frustrating," said the 26-year-old who looks to play a lot more pesky defense, block shots and make the right passes.

What Pennisi and Washington bring in size, Bonbon Custodio exudes in quickness, shooting and ability to penetrate when the need arises.

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Saturday, September 27, 2008

Dorian Pena, Jay Washington Power SMB, Advances to Pre-Season Championship


Photo Credit: Abante Tonite

With barely a week before the new season starts, San Miguel Beermen's frontliners seem to be in shape to wage war against the biggies of other teams.

SMBs three towers in Dorian Pena, Jay Washington, and Mick Pennisi showed their might against the three towers of the Coca-Cola Tigers in Asi Taulava, Nic Belasco, and Mark Telan.

The win advances SMB to the pre-season's finals against the other bracket's top team. Too bad the strong contender in the other bracket (Alaska Aces) will not be playing. Doing so should enable the coaching staff to scout them before their first meeting on Sunday.

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Visit the new

San Miguel Beermen website. Click here.

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SAN MIGUEL TRIPS COCA-COLA, SWEEPS GROUP B
Big men sparkle as Beermen prime up for 2008-09 wars

Source: Philippine Basketball Association
Saturday, September 27, 2008

Dorian Pena scattered 21 points to power the San Miguel Beermen past the Coca-Cola Tigers, 96-92, Friday night in the PBA Pre-Season basketball Tournament at the Olivarez Gym in Paranaque.

Jay Washington scored 19 points and Mick Pennisi added 11, going 3-of-7 from 3-point range for the Beermen, predicted by jaded observers as strong title contenders this season with their size and bench depth.

By topping Group B (2-0 record), San Miguel advance to Sunday's championship basketball game of this mini basketball tournament serving as tune-up for the league's 34th basketball season that commences on October 4.

The Beermen seized control early but needed a strong finishing kick to hold off a last ditch rally by the Tigers (0-2).

Danny Seigle, SMB's scoring leader, was banished from the basketball game three minutes into the second half following a nasty foul on R.J. Rizada that cost him a flagrant foul penalty 2.

Asi Taulava poured 19 points and Mark Telan turned in a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds) for the Tigers, who appeared to still be a work in progress with the 34th basketball season barely a week away.

"I've always been asked about our readiness. My standard reply is "this is all we've got"," said Coca-Cola coach Binky Favis, referring to his basketball lineup that has no big name basketball player other than Taulava.

"If we work hard and play our best every night good things might happen."

The Tigers, who trailed by as many as 15 points several times, pulled within 90-92 with 1:08 remaining but Mike Cortez and Dondon Hontiveros each hit a free throw before Washington sealed it with a putback in the closing seconds. (DBC)

The scores:

SMB 96 – Pena 21, Washington 19, Pennisi 11, Cortez 8, Seigle 7, Calaguio 6, Bono 6, Gonzales 5, Hontiveros 5, Pingris 4, Custodio 2, Racaela 2, Villanueva 1.

Coca-Cola 92 – Taulava 19, Cabagnot 17, Buenafe 14, Belasco 12, Telan 10, Arigo 9, Rizada 5, Calimag 3, Baguion 3, Dimaunahan 0.

Quarters: 26-17; 50-34; 73-68; 96-92.

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Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Dondon Hontiveros Leads San Miguel Beermen in a Loss to Egypt


Photo Credit: Nike.com.ph

The San Miguel Beermen close out the invitational basketball tournament with a loss to the Egypt National Team. Dondon Hontiveros lead the Beermen with 14 points showing some consistency on this tournament.

I must say it was a good experience for the team which badly needed to jell with only several days coming into the Philippinne Cup. It exposes some of the holes that SMB should plug-in in order to win against the top teams of the PBA. Coach Siot and the rest of the coaching staff should do a better job to fix these issues.

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Beermen take defeat to Egypt five in stride

Source: INQUIRER.net
by Romina Austria | September 23, 2008

DOHA -- Never mind that San Miguel Beer lost two of its three basketball exhibition matches here, the last a 69-60 decision to the Egypt national basketball team on Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila).

It was more important for basketball coach Siot Tanquingcen to be able to gauge the strengths and weaknesses of the Beermen with the start of the Philippine Basketball Association's 39th basketball season less than two weeks away.

He also found the experience a perfect bonding time among the mainstays, new recruits Mike Cortez, Ken Bono and Jay Washington and rookie Bonbon Custodio.

"Defense is one aspect that we should improve on," said Tanquingcen. "We are also experimenting on new basketball offensive patterns. I don't expect us to be at peak level come [the PBA's] opening day [on Oct. 4] but we soon will be if we'll just be patient."

The Beermen bowed to the Qatar nationals on Thursday night, 71-62, before beating Qatar basketball club Al Sadd, 62-33, the next night.

"It would've been more fruitful, especially for the basketball fans, had we won all our matches," said Tanquingcen. "But it was a good learning experience. Too bad we weren't a complete basketball team here."

Danny Ildefonso, Lordy Tugade and Mick Pennisi failed to join the trip.

Ildefonso is still in the United States after an operation on his feet. Tugade is recovering from a knee injury and Pennisi had a previous commitment. Marc Pingris played against Qatar but flew home right after the basketball match to attend a family affair.

Against the Egyptian nationals, the Beermen never took the lead and were able to tie the match just twice, at 2-all and 26-all, midway in the second period.

A 9-0 run by Egypt had the Filipinos trailing again by nine, 35-26. The closest the Beermen could get to the lead was 40-35 on back-to-back baskets by Dondon Hontiveros and Bonbon Custodio.

Filipinos here left the match with more than just memories and pictures of and with the Beermen. Some of the lucky ones managed to get the basketball jerseys, playing shoes, towels and T-shirts of the basketball players.

Danny Seigle was listless for most part of the four-nation invitational basketball tournament and Tanquingcen said the 6-foot-7 shooting forward only joined two pre-season basketball practice sessions with the Beermen before they arrived in Doha.

The scores:

EGYPT 69 -- Ghanim 14, Ammal 12, Saharty 11, Kerdany 9, Badr 7, Genady R. 6, Khassid 4, Elenen 2, Genady S. 2, Adly 2, Said 0.

SMB 60 -- Hontiveros 14, Cortez 11, Pena 9, Custodio 8, Bono 8, Gonzales 4, Villanueva 3, Washington 2, Seigle 1, Racela 0, Calaguio 0.

Quarters: 25-17; 44-38; 60-47; 69-60

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Friday, September 19, 2008

Quick Result: SMB vs. Qatar National Team

This is just to give you a quick result of the game between San Miguel Beermen (SMB) and the Qatar National Team. A more detailed news will be posted later.

Already excited to know the result? Follow the link below.


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Visit the new

San Miguel Beermen website. Click here.

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Qatar and Egypt Post Wins on First Day of Qatar Friendship Games

Source: Asia-Basket
by Amir Abou-El-Kheir | September 19, 2008

Qatar overcame a sloppy start, where they just couldn't put the ball in the basket in the first qarter (15-25), to defeat Magnolia Beverage Masters of the Philippines 71-62. Qatar were lead by Erfan Ali Saeed (200-F-83) with 17 points and 7 rebounds and Mansour El Hadary (178-G-90) who had 9 assists to go along with 9 points. Donaldo Hontiveros (188-G-77), who scored 18 of his team's first 21 points, but cooled off to finished with a game high of 24, led Magnolia Beverage Masters,

In the night's earlier game, Egypt defeated local Qatari club As Sadd Sports Club 84-52. Ramy Gunady (185-G-81) paced Egypt with 12 points, while Mohamed Said (205-C-80), and Wael Badr (193-G-78) added 9 points each for the Pharos. Curtis Haywood (198-G-75, college: Oklahoma City), without much assistance from his teammates, shot 70 % (7-10) from 3 pts, and finished with 31 points and 14 rebounds for As Sadd Sports Club. Attendance was estimated to be approximately 6000

Tonights games:
Qatar vs. Egypt - 20:30
As Sadd Sports Club vs. Magnolia Beverage Masters, Philippines - 22:00

All times are Qatari local time

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Thursday, September 18, 2008

San Miguel Beermen Battles Tall Qataris


The San Miguel Beermen will be in the land of the giants as they battle a tall Qatar National Team to start their participation in the pocket in preparation for the upcoming conference.

The Beermen's frontliners will be greatly challenged by the giants of Qatar including Hashim Zaidan Zaidan who stands at 6-11. Left to man the paint are Dorian Pena, Danny Seigle, Marc Pingris, and Jay Washington as new recruit Mick Pennisi did not join due to other commitment.

How do the Beermen stand for this game? I don't expect much. What we can get from these tuneup game is for the players to jell more before the new season starts. I think that's more important than winning any of these games though some pride are at stake.

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Beermen debut versus tall Qataris

Source: INQUIRER.net
by Romina Austria | September 18, 2008

DOHA -- San Miguel Beer will have to work double time when it faces the Qatar national team on Thursday as the host country boasts a lineup that has only two basketball players standing below 6-feet.

To make matters worse, Lordy Tugade, Danny Ildefonso and Mick Pennisi did not join the Beermen, who arrived here Tuesday night. Tugade is nursing an injury while Ildefonso and Pennisi have other commitments.

The 6-foot-5 Marc Pingris will play on Thursday but will return home for a family affair, missing the Beermen's succeeding
basketball games against Egypt's national basketball squad and local ballclub Al Sadd.

Qatar's
basketball tallest player is 6-11 Hashim Zaidan Zaidan. It also has 6-foot-9 Omer Abgader Salem, 6-8 Ali Turki Ali, three 6-7 basketball players in Erfan Ali Saeed, Baker Ahmad Mohammed and Hammam Omer Ismaili and 6-6 Khalid Suliman Abdi.

Only 5-7 Khalid Masoud Al Nasr and Mansour Atif Elhadary, who is 5-11, stand below 6 feet.

Coach Siot Tanquingcen thus expects Pingris and 6-6 Dorian Peña and Danny Seigle to rise to the occasion.

The
basketball game will also serve as a good workout for 6-7 Jay Washington, who was sent by Talk 'N Text to San Miguel last month.

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Wednesday, September 17, 2008

San Miguel Beermen Leaves For Qatar For Tuneup Games


The San Miguel Beermen are wasting no time in order to gear up their preparations for the next conference as the team left for Qatar to join a pocket tournament there. The Purefoods TJ Giants have earlier engaged the teams there winning against the Qatar Squad Al Sadd.

According to reports, the basketball squads that they will be facing there are composed of tall players. Such scenario is perfect so that the team will be able to see what adjustments they will do once they battle with tall PBA teams as more and more teams have beefed up their frontliners through recent trade and the draft.

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Beermen invade Qatar

Source: INQUIRER.net | September 17, 2008

by Musong R. Castillo, Romina Austria

San Miguel Beer will try to duplicate Purefoods' feat in Doha when it competes in a four-nation basketball tournament featuring the national basketball teams of Qatar and Egypt and a top club team of the host country.

Purefoods beat Qatar squad Al Sadd, 57-53, on Sept. 12 at the Al Gharrafa Center there. The victory against the team reinforced by American basketball players was the first for any Philippine ballclub.

Previous to that match, the TJ Hotdogs bowed to the national basketball teams of Qatar, 77-69, and Jordan, 78-67.

Qatar is holding a series of pocket tournaments to prepare their national basketball team for the Stankovic Cup in October which will be held in Kuwait.

"It is great that we are invited to such basketball tournaments because I really look for opportunities for my basketball players and the coaching staff to learn other styles of basketball play," said basketball coach Siot Tanquingcen of the basketball tournament slated Sept. 18-20.

The Beermen play all their matches at 10 p.m. local time, 3 a.m. here in Manila.

In a recent preseason match at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines gym in Manila, Jay Washington scored 18 points and Mick Pennisi had five rebounds to lift the Beermen to a 99-90 rout of the Red Bull Barakos.

San Miguel acquired the duo via separate trades, adding more offensive options other than Dondon Hontiveros, Danny Seigle and Danny Ildefonso.

Ginebra-less opening day

The PBA starts its 34th season on Oct. 4 at the Araneta Coliseum with crowd-darling Barangay Ginebra definitely not going to see action on opening day and the league seriously considering on letting Rain Or Shine play in the only scheduled game.

The league traditionally does not give opening day-playing privilege to a team that won the championship in its last tournament, in this case, the Gin Kings, after their classic seven-game conquest of the Air21 Express in the Fiesta Cup Finals.

And that has made the PBA's think-tank train its sights on Rain Or Shine, or specifically, Gabe Norwood and Solomon Mercado, the Elasto Painters' two prized rookies who are seen as the men who could finally turn their basketball fortunes around.

Right now, there are two sets of opening day games that will be decided upon by commissioner Renauld "Sonny" Barrios once he returns from the United States from a vacation.

Rain Or Shine debut

Though the league insider refused to disclose Rain Or Shine's opponent in "Set A," he said the Elasto Painters are not in the other schedule being considered to follow an extravagant opening-day rites.

Not only will a glimpse of how far the Elasto Painters could go in the Philippine Cup be seen when Norwood and Mercado debut on opening day, it will also serve as a measure of how well the two Filipino-Americans can draw the crowds.

Rain Or Shine, then known as the Welcoat Dragons, failed to make it past the elimination round in each of its first six tournaments in the basketball league, a streak the Elasto Painters certainly would want to snap as soon as they can.

Norwood, a 6-foot-5 point guard who was once hailed as the best sixth man in the US NCAA Division I, was picked first overall in the last Draft.

If ever, Rain Or Shine will be playing on opening day for the second time in three years, first enjoying the privilege in 2006 when it entered the basketball league. The Dragons got clobbered by Ginebra in that game.

Seven provincial games have been scheduled in the Philippine Cup, to be touched off by a first-ever outing in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, pitting the Coca-Cola Tigers against the Alaska Aces.

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Tuesday, September 16, 2008

San Miguel Beermen: The Strongest PBA Team Today?


The San Miguel Beermen will be again coming into the All-Filipino/Philippinne Cup strong - on paper. This was the same scenario last pre-season when the team's superstars lent from Team Philipinnes including Danny Seigle and Dondon came back together with newly acquired Larry Fonacier.

The team's performance in the Philippinne Cup was a disaster. The star-studded lineup was swept by Red Bull Barakos in the quarterfinal round. Chemistry, playing time, and defense were big issues that resulted to the trade of former Ateneo players LA Tenorio and Larry Fonacier to Alaska in exchange for Mike Cortez and Ken Bono and Enrico Villanueva to Purefoods in exchange for defense specialist Marc Pingris.

Will it be dejavu once again? That's something to be seen after the 2008 All-Filipino Conference.

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Visit the new

San Miguel Beermen website. Click here.

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SMB extra-strong? Don't tell that to Tanquingcen

Source: Journal Online
By Zean Macamay
| September 16, 2008


There's a joke going around that the only men San Miguel Beer needs to obtain to cement its status as a truly all-stars unit are movie actors Richard Gutierrez and Piolo Pascual.

Coach Siot Tanquingcen doesn't think it's hilarious. That's because he doesn't even believe that the Beermen are mighty at all.

"To be honest, we're not strong," he said.

Really? Why?

"Strong on paper doesn't mean victories," said Tanquingcen. "It will still be on the basketball court where we should be winning games, and that's the place where we should display how strong we are."

In a pre-season that has witnessed some surprising player movements, the Beermen were the ones who appeared to have gotten the best, snatching Jay Washington from Talk 'N Text after trading its third pick in the Rookie Draft last Aug. 31 and then acquiring Mick Pennisi from Red Bull in exchange for a first round pick in 2010.

That addition of those two players has made the already star-studded San Miguel ballclub much deeper. But as Tanquingcen would put it, deeper doesn't equate to basketball championships right away.

He has a valid reason to believe so.

Then known as Magnolia, the team that has won the most titles (17) in PBA history failed to advance into the Finals in both the Philippine Cup and Fiesta Conference last season despite high expectations, its campaign weakened by injuries on starters' Danny Seigle, Danny Ildefonso and Dorian Pena.

"Historically, that's our weakest point," said Tanquingcen. "But that's part of the basketball game, that's something you have to be prepared for."

A healthy Seigle and Ildefonso in the coming Philippine Cup that kicks off on Oct. 4 certainly spells trouble for other teams. Defense doesn't seem to be a problem with Marc Pingris and Pena around, and the back-court line-up can match with the best with Olsen Racela, Mike Cortez, and Jonas Villanueva.

The shooters are equally fearsome, composed by Lordy Tugade and Chris Calaguio -- and of course, Dondon Hontiveros. The reserves are Samigue Eman, the No. 2 pick in the 2007 Draft, Wesley Gonzales and former UAAP MVP Ken Bono.

Still, Tanquingcen knows that they still have a lot of work to do.

"We always like to improve," he said. "We're always trying to do everything that we can to win a basketball championship. Maganda yung added players (Pennisi and Washington) to help you out."

The Philippine Cup will be defended by Sta. Lucia Realty, which is still in the U.S. preparing.

Meanwhile, the seven production outfits trying to earn the right to stage the league's opening ceremonies will make their formal presentations today at the PBA office.

Given one hour to present their concepts are Rommel Garcia's ATB Expedio, Gina Quizon's G12 Global Designs, Maris Nicolas' MTV, BG Melicano's Livewire, John Balajadia's Blink Media, Jovy Astillero's CREASIA Inc., and Miguel Silerio and Vikki Ramirez's Black Tie Event.

Commissioner Renauld 'Sonny' Barrios, however, will not be around to personally witness the presentation. He is still in the U.S. and is expected to be informed of the details by officer-in-charge Rickie Santos.

The winner is expected to be announced within the week.

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Note: Some sections changed to reflect errors in the writer's news copy regarding rosters details.

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Jay Washington Leads San Miguel Beermen Past Red Bull Barakos


San Miguel Beermen's new recruits in Jay Washington and Mick Pennisi showed the way for the San Miguel Beermen as they handily beat the undersized Red Bull Barakos in the opening game of the PBA Pre-Season Games.

The win gave the team a crack at the pre-season finals if they win against the Coca-Cola Tigers on September 26 (4:00 pm) at the Olivarez Gym in Paranaque.


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Visit the new

San Miguel Beermen website. Click here.

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PBA Pre-Season Tournament: Washington leads SMB past Bulls

Source: Manila Bulletin
September 17, 2008

Jay Washington and Mick Pennisi seemed perfectly fit for their new home -- San Miguel Beer.

Washington scored 18 points and Pennisi had six points, five rebounds and two assists as the San Miguel Beermen beat the Red Bull Barakos, 99-90, on Monday at the start of the PBA pre-season basketball tournament at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines basketball gym.

By acquiring the two via separate trades, SMB became bigger and beefier and in process presenting match-up nightmare for opponents which the Barakos encountered through the basketball game.

Apart from it, Washington and Pennisi are also blessed with good shooting touch so they provide basketball coach Siot Tanquingcen a lot of offensive options other than Dondon Hontiveros, Danny Seigle and Danny Ildefonso.

"They're a big basketball team. Obviously the addition of Mick and JayWash has made SMB a tough match-up," observed Red Bull deputy coach Gee Abanilla, who called the shots for the Barakos.

Tanquingcen though insists his troops need some more fine tuning to be fully cohesive.

Expectations, he admits, are high but it remains to be seen whether his new-look basketball team is up to the task.

"It's always been that way. Expectations are always high. Hopefully this time we could deliver," Tanquingcen said.

Against a basketball team that let go off three key players (Pennisi, Topex Robinson and Kiko Adriano), the Beermen dominated the basketball game early and practically settled the issue by halftime as they cruised to a 64-40 advantage.

Cyrus Baguio scored 15 points to show the way for the Barakos.

The scores:

SMB 99 -- Washington 18, Seigle 15, Gonzales 15, Hontiveros 11, Pena 8, Bono 7, Pennisi 6, Custodio 5, Racela 5, Calaguio 3, Villanueva 2, Pingris 2, Cortez 2.

Red Bull 90 -- Baguio 15, Sharma 14, Alvarez 9, Espinas 9, Membrere 8, Cruz 7, Magpayo 6, Rodriguez 6, Hubalde 6, Ybanez 3, Najorda 2 Hrabak 0, Duncil 0.

Quarters: 29-23; 64-40; 84-58; 99-90

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