MANILA, Philippines – The San Miguel Beermen continued to win. In the PBA Philippine Cup, they easily defeated the Terrafirma Dyip, winning 128–89. The game was played in Montalban’s Ynares Center.

San Miguel’s record improved to 5–2 with the victory. As a result, they are now in sole third place. They are now well-positioned to try to get a two-to-beat advantage in the postseason.

The game was under the Beermen’s hands from the beginning. After the first quarter, they had a 28–21 lead. They had a strong defense. They had a seamless offensive. They were leading 53–37 at the break.

The third quarter proved to be pivotal. 42 points were scored by San Miguel. The lead blew up. No response came from the Dyip. Before the fourth quarter, the game was all but gone.

Rodney Brondial’s performance was exceptional. He recorded a career-high 22 rebounds and 16 points. He also contributed a block and an assist. According to Brondial, he was just abiding with the team’s protocol. “I simply adhere to Coach Leo’s methodology,” he stated. “Our preparation is the cause of whatever occurs.”

Mo Tautuaa took the initiative as well. On a perfect 7-of-7 shooting effort, he scored 17 points. CJ Perez also scored 17 points. He had trouble at first, but eventually settled into a rhythm. Fajardo, June Mar, scored 12 points and pulled down 12 rebounds. Don Trollano and Juami Tiongson each contributed 12 and 13 points.

San Miguel’s equilibrium was evident. Everyone made a contribution. The team played good defense and shared the ball. Leo Austria, the team’s head coach, commended their work. The defense particularly pleased him.

Austria praised Brondial in particular. “In practice, Rodney puts in a lot of effort,” he remarked. He provides us with vitality. He bounces back. He stands up. We are pleased with his contributions.

Terrafirma was only able to shoot 35.9 percent against the Beermen. That was crucial to the victory. The rhythm was never established by the Dyip. They had trouble scoring. On the boards, they were outmatched as well.

San Miguel won for the second time in a row. The week before, they defeated the Phoenix Fuel Masters. They now have momentum on their side. They want to end the elimination round on a high note.

Meanwhile, Terrafirma is still having trouble. They fell to 1–7 after the defeat. It was their sixth consecutive loss. They could now lose their chance to qualify for the playoffs.

With 24 points, Mark Nonoy led the Dyip. He made three triples. 17 points were added by Stanley Pringle. Louie Sangalang received ten points. The remainder of the crew, however, was unable to keep up.

In the second half, Terrafirma made an effort to retaliate. San Miguel, however, always answered. The lead only got bigger. The Beermen maintained their composure and continued to perform.

San Miguel has a distinct mission. Their goal is to place in the top four. In the quarterfinals, that gives them a twice-to-beat advantage. From now on, every victory counts.

Coach Austria is aware of this. He is maintaining team focus. He stated, “We don’t want to look too far ahead.” “We play each game as it comes.”

The team is still getting better, he added. Austria stated, “As a group, we are still learning.” “But I like the way we’re going.”

San Miguel’s roster is extensive. Fajardo continues to rule. Perez contributes energy and scores. Leadership comes from veterans like Marcio Lassiter and Chris Ross. Brondial and other role players are filling in when necessary.

The secret to their success is this depth. One or two players are not their only option. Everyone is taking part. They are therefore difficult to defeat.

The Beermen will need to maintain their consistency going forward. There are other teams vying for postseason slots as well. Among the leading candidates are Ginebra and Magnolia. The path will become more difficult.

San Miguel, however, is currently on schedule. They have an effective offense. They’re getting better at defense. Their chemistry is evident. They will be a serious postseason contender if they keep playing this way.

San Miguel gets closer to their objective. There is not much time left for Terrafirma.