Picking up from where they left off in their game against the Coca-Cola Tigers last Dec. 28, the Beermen made it 3-0 over the Express in their head-on duels in the conference.

It’s Sta. Lucia versus Rain or Shine in the opener and San Miguel against Ginebra for the main game at the start of the best-of-three quarterfinals showdowns Wednesday in the same venue.

“Great players make great plays. Yung mga players ko ang nagpadali ng panalo namin,” said San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen on their conquest of the Express.

Air21 became the fourth team brought out in the all-Filipino tourney after Red Bull, Purefoods and, Coca-Cola. The Express are coming back in the Fiesta Conference playing under the Burger King banner.

Smb”s Lordy Tugade, Dondon Hontiveros, Bonbon Custodio, Danny Seigle and Dorian Pena all fired out in double figures as the Beermen eased out the Express with a torrid shooting.
“I know we’re not expected to be here (wildcard round). But there’s reason for everything and I think God has reason in bringing us here. Going into the quarters, we’ll be a better team after going through the wildcard. We’ll be more confident,” said Tanquingcen.

“Ginebra’s a tough team whether Mark (Caguioa) is there or not. But I’m not taking anything away from my team. We’re coming out and making the best we can,” Tanquingcen added.
Tugade and Hontiveros have 18 points each, Custodio and Seigle added 16 apiece while Pena had 12 as the SMB easily negated Gary David’s 31-point explosion.
Arwind Santos and Don Allado were the two other Express who put in double-digit outputs with the former making 20 and the latter 12.

With a flawless game, the Beermen established control in the second quarter and kept the Express at bay the rest of the way.

Seigle had been hot, having made 10 points when hit by Santos’ wayward elbow opening a one-inch wide cut on his right cheekbone midway through the second period.
The two teams figured in a highly physical contest from the onset with Wynne Arboleda being called an offensive infraction for swinging the ball hard on defender
Tugade late in the first half.Tugade took over from Seigle in the second period, knocking in a triple, a twinner and three charities to help the Beermen get a 48-41 spread at the half.

Custodio, Pena, Hontiveros and Olsen Racela also had significant numbers as the Beermen seized control after engaging the Express in two deadlocks and eight lead changes.
David made 17 points, three rebounds and two assists in the first 24 minutes of play for the Express. (NC)

The scores:San Miguel 105 – Tugade 18, Hontiveros 18, Custodio 16, Seigle 16, Pena 12, Washington 9, Racela 5, Pingris 4, Pennisi 4, Calaguio 3, Baguion 0.

Air21 86 – David 31, Santos 20, Allado 12, Arboleda 7, Baguio 5, Quinahan 4, Cruz 3, Kramer 2, Billones 2, Intal 0, Canaleta 0, Cruz 0.

Quarterscores: 25-23, 48-41, 75-64, 105-86