TAULAVA SHOWS WHY

Asi Taulava gave 22 reasons why he deserves to be named the league MVP as he towed the San Miguel Beermen to a series-opening, 75-70 win over the reigning champions Indonesia Warriors in Game One of the best-of-five championship series in the ASEAN Basketball League late Friday night at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City.
The 40-year old Taulava, who was named as the league’s Most Valuable Player last Wednesday, scored 22 points including the team’s last six shots to gain headway in their quest for both the title and vengeance against the very same team that denied them the crown last season.
Chris Banchero added 15, Val Acuna had 13 while Leo Avenido had 12 to underscore San Miguel’s offensive potency. The Beermen aim to make it 2-0 today in Game Two which will be played at 3 p.m. at the same venue.
Acuna had five points in the fourth including a mid-range gem that pushed their lead to nine, 69-60. But the Warriors persisted and got within three, 66-69, before Taulava emphatically shut the door on them with his late-game heroics.
Steven Thomas led the Warriors with 20 points while Fil-Am guard Stanley Pringle had 15 on an awful 7-of-18 shooting from the field.
BOX SCORE
San Miguel (75) – Taulava 22, Banchero 15, Acuna 13, Avenido 12, J. Williams 6, Fortuna 5, B. Williams , Hubalde 0, Cawaling 0.
Indonesia (70) – Thomas 20, Pringle 15, Daniels 14, Wuysang 13, Canada 4, Sitepu 2, Smith 2.