Basketball
Malaysia Dragons force Beermen to deciding Game Three in ABL semis series
The Westports Malaysia Dragons extended their semifinal series to a deciding Game 3 when they defeated the San Miguel Beermen, 100-77, Saturday in the ASEAN Basketball League at the MABA Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.
The Beermen fell after the Dragons closed the game with a 26-7 blast to force a rubber match on June 9 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Filipino Patrick Cabahug helped Tiras Wade and Brian Williams on the offensive end to boost the Dragons’ fourth quarter assault to tie the series. Cahabug had 17 points on three-of-six shooting and his buzzer beating trey in the third quarter sparked the Dragons as they entered the fourth with a 72-66 lead.
Wade and Williams scored 34 and 26 points respectively and dominated the fourth as they lead the charge in that pivotal run.
Duke Crews led the Beermen in scoring with 15 points while Chris Banchero added 13.
Meanwhile, the AirAsia Philippine Patriots attempt to extend their own semifinal affair with the Indonesia Warriors when they clash Sunday at the Mahaka Square in Jakarta.
The Patriots are missing a key piece to their team with Ardy Larong being slapped with a two-game suspension by the league.
Larong was suspended after he was caught headbutting Indonesia Warriors’ Stanley Pringle in the fourth quarter of Game 1 during a video review of the match.
With their backs against the wall, Patriots coach Glenn Capacio hopes to regain homecourt advantage in Game 2.
“For us to get back in the series, we just have to be mentally and physically tough especially that we’ll be playing in Jakarta,” Capacio said.
