source: gmanews.tv

San Miguel Beer finally barged into the win column of the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup turning back Burger King, 117-99, in Wednesday night’s main game of a triple header at the Astrodome.

Arwind Santos torched his former team for 28 points and had a career-high 18 rebounds in the Beermen’s first win of the season in three games.

Acquired in the off-season due to what coach Siot Tanquingcen described as his similarity with the playing style of import Gabe Freeman, Santos also added three assists in a game the Beermen dominated majority of the way.

“Flattered siyempre tayo doon," said Santos of the comparison with the versatile Freeman, the San Miguel import when the team bagged the Fiesta Cup title last season at the expense of Barangay Ginebra.

“Medyo nag-settle down na rin ako, kaya medyo napa-ganda na ang laro. Kasi the first two games medyo nanggigil pa ako," added the former Far Eastern University standout.

San Miguel lost its first two games against Barangay Ginebra and Alaska.

Burger King on the other hand, lost its second game in three outings.

Playing without starting point guard Wynne Arboleda, the Whoppers struggled early on and trailed by as many as 13 (47-34) in the first half.

But they came back strong in the third quarter behind Egay Billones, whose three-pointer midway in the period had Burger King threatening at 68-65.

The Beermen however, answered back with their own run, unloading a big 15-2 binge, capped by an open Dondon Hontiveros jumper to bring the lead back to 16, 83-67.

The Whoppers made a last stand in the final quarter when they trimmed the deficit to 95-85.

Again San Miguel responded.

Draining three-pointers one after the other, the Beermen finally buried the Whoppers, 109-88, with Olsen Racela’s booming trey serving as the final nail to Burger Kings’ coffer.

Billones led the Whoppers with 16 points.

Santos later dedicated the game to Arboleda, his long-time Burger King teammate, who was suspended for the rest of the season for attacking a male fan last week at the special ringside section of the Araneta Coliseum.

“Para kay pareng Wynne ito. Siyempre, I sympathize with him," said Santos.

The scores:

San Miguel 117 - Santos 28, Cortez 16, Pennisi 14, Hontiveros 13, Tugade 12, Villanueva 10, Miranda 10, Pena 6, Custodio 3, Racela 3, Eman 2, Calaguio 0.

Burger King 99 - Yee 17, Billones 16, Quinahan 14, Lanete 13, Matias 7, Buenafe 7, Aban 7, Sharma 7, Yee 5, David 4, Belga 2.

Quarterscores: 34-24, 60-49, 85-73, 117-99

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