Jay R. Gotera Saudi Gazette MANILA — The San Miguel Beermen posted their sixth straight win, turning back the NLEX Road Warriors, 96-92, on Friday night in the PBA Governors' Cup. SMB thus vaulted to the top of the standings with its 6-2 card while NLEX fell to solo 11th after absorbing its fifth loss in seven games. Import Arizona Reid led the Beermen with 30 points and 10 rebounds while Marcio Lassiter tallied 21 markers. June Mar Fajardo posted a double-double 16 points and 17 boards. The Road Warriors kept the game close for most parts, trailing by just two, 86-84, with 3:12 left. But Reid knocked in back-to-back three pointers as the Beermen began pulling away, 92-86. But the Road Warriors came charging back to pull to within three, 95-92, with 11 ticks left. But Lassiter sealed the victory for SMB with a split from the free-throw line. Asian import Michel Madanly from Syria led NLEX with 24 points. Alaska 101, Kia 63 Alaska dealt Kia its worst defeat in franchise history as the Aces annihilated the Carnival, 101-63. The 38-point victory was the fifth in seven outings for the Aces who are now at solo third in the standings behind San Miguel (6-2) and league leader Barako Bull (5-1). Kia suffered its second straight defeat to tie idle Talk N Text at sixth to seventh spot, both with an even 3-3 card. Vic Manuel came off the bench to lead Alaska with 17 points and four boards. Import Romeo Travis posted a double-double 14 points and 10 rebounds. Three other Aces scored in double digits with Chris Banchero and Dondon Hontiveros scoring 14 points apiece, while JVee Casio added 11. Calvin Abueva scored just eight points but grabbed 15 rebounds and issued six assists. Import Hamady N'Diaye of Senegal led Kia with 18 points and seven rebounds. He failed to finish the game as he had to seek medical attention late in the third period after getting poked in the eye. Jet Chang of Taiwan, Kia's other import, added 10 markers. No other Carnival scored in double digits. Alaska raced to an early lead as Hontiveros and Casio combined for 5-of-5 from beyond the three-point arc in the first half, scoring 19 of their team's 42 first half points. The Aces hardly needed the firepower of their import as Travis scored only three points in the first half. Travis waxed hot in the second half, scoring nine points in the third quarter as the Aces erected a 70-49 lead heading into the final quarter. Banchero and Manuel then stole the limelight in the fourth period with a flurry of baskets to completely take the fight out of the Carnival. Game Saturday: Rain or Shine Elasto Painters vs. Talk N Text Tropang Texters.
