Expect a great match today as Alaska and Talk N Text battle it out in Game 7 for the right to face San Miguel Beermen in the Fiesta Conference Finals. The loser will face Derby Ace in a 1-game battle for third place this Friday, August 6.

Best Player of the Game: Marc Pingris – 17pts, 10rebs, 4asts

Gabe Freeman vs Don Allado

Tony Washam with 28pts, 8rebs and 3asts

Alex Cabagnot between defenders

Yap-Artadi combination

More pictures at the Derby Ace vs San Miguel Semifinals Gallery

*photos by gmtan

James Yap was held to only 7pts but made crucial baskets in the 4th quarter but the other locals stepped up specially Marc Pingris with 17pts, 10rebs (7offensive), 4asts, 1blk and 1stl and also Rafi Reavis with 16pts, 13rebs (6 offensive) and 2blks.

Although San Miguel still led in rebounding in this game 50-48 (Gabe Freeman with 25rebs), the Llamados had big defensive stops and rebounds in the 4th quarter as they showed that they still have the heart and fighting spirit in this series after being down 3-1. Game 6 will be this Sunday, August 1, 6:30pm at the Araneta Coliseum.

One game at a time, let us give our all out support this Sunday.

Game Scores:

Derby Ace 88 – Washam 28,Pingris 17, Reavis 16, Artadi 10, Yap J. 7, Simon 5, Yap R. 3, Canaleta 2, Maierhofer 0, Adducul 0, Allado 0.

San Miguel Beer 82 – Freeman 18, Yeo 14, Santos 14, Washington 14, Hontiveros 7, Racela 5, Villanueva 4, Cabagnot 4, Ildefonso 2, Tugade 0, Pena 0.

Quarterscores: 23-18, 44-43, 64-64, 88-82

Purefoods has comeback from a 0-2 and 3-1 series deficit in the past and is only 1 of 2 teams to win 3 straight wins after being down 3-1 (against Alaska in 2006). Will history repeat itself? Derby Ace will try to take it one game at a time and try to stop Powerhouse San Miguel in Game 5 Today at the Araneta Coliseum.

In order for the Llamados to win, they must match the energy and intensity of the Beermen specially Gabe Freeman who has been killing them with his rebounding. The locals specially Derby Ace bench must show up tonight to keep fresh legs on the floor specially Paul Artadi, Nino Canaleta, Peter June Simon and Rico Maierhofer.

But the key in Game 5 is rebounding (this is where we are missing the services of Kerby Raymundo and Marc Pingris, who is playing with an injury) and of course the play of Derby Ace Import Tony Washam is critical, Washam played poorly in the 3 games that Derby Ace lost to San Miguel, we hope his championship experience in other leagues will show tonight.

Go B-meg Derby Ace Llamados!

Derby Ace Import Tony Washam made a 3-point play with 7.9 seconds left in the game to give Derby Ace the lead 95-94 and also made a crucial steal to seal the win for the Llamados to tie their best-of-seven series vs San Miguel at 1-1. Washam was named Best player of the game with 33pts, 7rebs, 1ast and 4stls.

San Miguel led most of the game with their biggest lead at 18points, 45-27 in the 2nd quarter, but B-Meg made a couple of runs at the end of the 2nd and 4th quarters to inch closer to San Miguel. James Yap led all locals with 19pts (11/13 FT) but struggled from the field, only 1 of 6 from three-point range and 2 of 7 from two-point range.

Don Allado had a great game specially in the 1st half scoring 15pts but fouled out early in the game. It’s back to square one for these two teams as they face each other again this Sunday at 4pm for Game 3.

Game Scores

Derby Ace (95) - Washam 33, Yap J. 18, Allado 15, Yap R. 9, Pingris 6, Reavis 5, Timberlake 2, Salvador 2, Artadi 2, Simon 2, Maierhofer 1, Canaleta 0.

San Miguel Beer (94) - Santos 19, Freeman 18, Washington 13, Hontiveros 9, Ildefonso 9, Villanueva 8, Cabagnot 8, Yeo 7, Seigle 3, Pena 0.

Quarterscores: 18-30, 45-57, 74-79, 95-94

Derby Ace hopes to bounce back from their disappointing loss in Game 1 to San Miguel, it is a must win for the Llamados because it will be difficult to climb back from a 2-0 deficit specially against a formidable team like San Miguel. Derby Ace Import Tony Washam must make adjustments on his offense where he was limited to only 23pts on 6 out of 18 from the field. The other Derby Ace players must step up, where we can see in Game 1 that they lacked energy maybe because of the long and tiring series against Rain or Shine. San Miguel also had a couple of fast break dunks in Game 1 and which Derby Ace needs adjust and tighten their defense in Game 2.

In the other semifinals matchup, Powerhouse Talk N Text also hopes to bounce back from a humiliating loss to Alaska, 104-88.

Go B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados!

Tony Washam was guarded well by SMB

Marc Pingris blocks Danny I

Only a few highlights for Derby Ace including a Slam by Rico Maierhofer

More pictures at the Derby Ace vs San Miguel Semifinals Gallery

* photos by gmtan

Kerby Raymundo is back after being out because of an injury

Clif Brown getting a massage after suffering from cramps

James Yap is determined to give Derby Ace a win

Derby Ace Mascots

More pictures at the Derby Ace Llamados Gallery

* pics by gmtan