Beermen on right track

MACAU – San Miguel Beer clinched the semis spot in Group B after dethroning Ryukyu Golden Kings of Japan, 101-92, Thursday night in the East Asia Super League Terrific 12 invitational tournament here at the Tap Seac-Multi-Sport Pavilion.

Denz Wells put on a show for the Beermen with 42 points and a pair of rim-rattling dunks as San Miguel advanced to the medal round of this tough 12-club competition.

Terrence Romeo and Paul Zamar also made huge contributions for the Beermen, who bucked a slow start before Wells and Romeo teamed up late in the first period to seize the momentum of the game.

Romeo finished with 18 points — 15 in the first half — while Zamar contributed nine points, five rebounds and three assists in 19 minutes of action off the bench.

“From the start, we knew it will be difficult. After their loss, I expected them to come out fighting hard,” said San Miguel head coach Leo Austria, who also drew 15 points and eight rebounds from Lester Prosper.

“I commend my bench players especially Paul Zamar. But tonight’s game belonged to Denz,” Austria added.

The Beermen were clinging to a 74-68 entering the fourth quarter when Wells, their import for the coming Governors’ Cup, engineered the breakaway and gave them a 90-77 spread midway in the final period.

Wells provided the highlights in that run, a pair of one-hand slams and a scintillating block on Ryukyu import Demon Brooks.

“I can’t take any credit. Everybody stepped up tonight. My teammates and the coaching staff did a great job to put me in this position,” said Wells, who shot 16-of-29 from the field.

San Miguel will play Lance Stephenson and the Liaoning Flying Leopards in the semis on Saturday.

Brooks paced the Golden Kings with 34 points while Ryuichi Kishimoto, the reigning Most Valuable Player of the tournament, added 12.