MikeLigalig.com

Published on March 12, 2011
Smart Gilas threw hammer and tongs at San Miguel Beer, fashioning out a 109-68 rout that sent the
Nationals closer to an outright playoff spot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at The Arena in San
Juan Saturday.

With tremendous discipline, focus and killer instinct, Smart Gilas totally outclassed the struggling
SMB side, dealing the Beermen their worst defeat in over a decade.

Marcus Douthit had another monstrous performance that rubbed off to his teammates, leaving the
Beermen no chance to get into the Phoenix Fuel-sponsored weekend game.

So overpowering were the Nationals that they kept leads of over 30 points throughout the last
quarter.

At the end of their businesslike showing, the Nationals left the Beermen with their worst defeat
since a 61-99 setback at the hands of Alaska in Game Six of the 1998 All-Filipino finals.

Smart Gilas preserved its clean slate and got the solo lead with a 4-0 win-loss record. San Miguel,
on the other hand, slid to joint seventh with Air21 at 1-3.

The Nationals torched the Beermen with 16 triples on 50-percent marksmanship.

On the other end, Douthit was always there with his intimidating presence.

Smart Gilas thus pulled off the lopsided victory after close wins over Talk n Text, Alaska Milk and
Air21.

The Beermen continued to struggle with their new trade recruits and an import replacement

David Young, who took over from Ira Brown, didn’t help the SMB cause with only 15 points in his
second outing with the team.

Douthit outscored the whole San Miguel team in the opening quarter and the Nationals set the tone of
the match early with double-digit spreads at 14-4 and 18-8.

The Gilas naturalization prospect poured in 11 points in the first period in a dominant showing
which the Beermen just couldn’t contain.

Probably due to frustration, Lordy Tugade, at one point in the second quarter, took a swing at
Douthit that triggered an altercation joined in by coaches of the two teams.

Tugade was assessed a technical foul while coaches Ato Agustin and Rajko Toroman were issued a
warning.

Smart Gilas ran roughshod over SMB in the first half, 44-30, shooting 49 percent from the field and
limiting the Beermen to 25 percent.

With Douthit resting, MarciO Lassiter, Mac Baracael and Japeth Aguilar took over and gave the
Nationals a 19-point bulge at 38-19.

Baracael was back in action after missing their last two games due to a dislocated finger. (SB)

The scores:

Smart-Gilas Pilipinas 109 -- Douthit 17, Barroca 17, Ababou 17, Lassiter 16, Lutz 14, Baracael 7,
Aguilar 6, Tiu 6, Casio 5, Ramos 4, Slaughter 0.

SMB 68 – Young 15, Washington 13, Al-Hussaini 13, Salvacion 6, Hubalde 4, Miranda 4, Yeo 4,
Ildefonso 4, Baclao 2, Santos 2, Tugade 1, Guevarra 0, Cabagnot 0, Pennisi 0.

Quarters:18-8, 44-30; 75-41; 109-68

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