Freeman leads Beermen in win over Texters

Source: PBA.com
Cramping out in their last game Saturday, Gabe Freeman returned with a flourish, stepping up as San Miguel Beer beat out Talk n Text in their fierce Holy Wednesday showdown at the Araneta Coliseum.

Freeman churned out 29 points and 22 rebounds and drew tremendous support from four teammates as the Beermen outlasted the Tropang Texters, 112-106, in overtime to gain solo second in the 2010 PBA Fiesta Conference.

Dondon Hontiveros, Jay Washington, Arwind Santos and Alex Cabagnot were locals who helped big as San Miguel became the first team in light-colored uniform to win a game in the season-ending tourney.

Hontiveros added 21 points, Washington chipped in 18 points, five rebounds and three assists, Santos contributed 13 points and five rebounds while Cabagnot shared 12 points and eight points.

The Beermen outlasted the Texters in a furious battle, seizing solo second with a 2-1 win-loss records before the league takes a brief break in observance of the Lenten season.

The tourney resumes on Easter Sunday with Barako Coffee and Rain or Shine slugging it out at 4 p.m. before Barangay Ginebra and Coca-Cola clash at 6:30 p.m.

“We wanted to come out. We knew we needed to regroup as a team, and I think we did a good job out there tonight,” said Freeman.

“At least nakabawi after our poor game versus Coca-Cola (in Gingoog, Misamis Oriental last Saturday). Actually dalawang sunod na masamang laro yon,” said San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen.

“We’re a work in progress and hopefully we’ll be able to fast track it. With two new recruits (Alex Cabagnot and Joseph Yeo), nagkakapaan ang team,” Tangquincen added.

Talk n Text sent the game into overtime on a triple by Ranidel de Ocampo but the Texters lost just the same on a woeful 5-of-10 free-throw shooting in the extension play.

The Texters slid to joint fifth place with the Air21 Express and the Barako Energy Coffee Masters on their identical 1-2 marks.

The Beermen opened the overtime with a 6-1 tear and held on to the lead to the finish.

Going down the drain was De Ocampo’s heckuva game laced with 28 points, four rebounds and two assists.

Harvey Carey had a double-double game with 20 points and 11 rebounds with Jimmy Alapag adding 17 points, three assists and two rebounds.

Import Shawn Daniels continued to concentrate on manning the boards, grabbing 15 rebounds but putting in only 16 points. He was 2-of-7 from the stripe. (SB)

The scores:

San Miguel 112 - Freeman 29, Hontiveros 21, Washington 18, Santos 13, Cabagnot 12, Villanueva 6, Pennisi 6, Yeo 4, Pena 3, Miranda 0.

Talk N' Text 106 - De Ocampo 28, Carey 20, Alapag 17, Daniels 16, Castro 10, Cardona 9, Yee 6, Dillinger 0, Aban 0, Isip 0, Belasco 0.

Quarterscores: 28-25, 55-51, 76-73, 112-106