Battle of PBA's most popular teams: B-Meg wins over Ginebra, 96-89

With all due respect to the San Miguel Beermen (who's pretty much the Lakers/ Celtics of the PBA with its chamionship pedigree), PBA fans were treated to a showdown of the league's most popular teams-- Ginebra and B-Meg.

B-Meg started like a house on fire, despite not starting bruising import Shamari Spears, behind the hot shooting of James Yap (who drove for a couple of "bitbit" lay-ups akin to former SMB star Nelson Asaytono) and Marc Pingris' yeoman's effort on defending Ginebra import Nate Brumfield (one-on-one at that).

Willie Miller looked out of it early for Ginebra, which found itself behind by double figures in the first quarter and were only able to rally in the second quarter once Mark Caguioa entered the fray. The mohawk-ed haired "Spark" was hitting all kinds of shots, while B-Meg started playing isolation basketball and missed some gimmes. Brumfield also started to flex his muscles in the paint, but was more of exchanging baskets with Spears (who is reportedly on the chopping block much like the other underperforming imports in this very short, nine-game elimination phase).

It wasn't long before Ginebra climbed back into the game behind Caguioa, Brumfield and Rudy Hatfield who came off the bench for some added muscle. Fortunately for B-Meg, once Yap started to cool down, one-time rival for the PBL MVP plum and now longtime back-up/super sub Peter June Simon (he should have his own team much like Gary David has Powerade) waxed hot and chipped in 20 points off the bench.

Yap finished with 25 and 10 rebounds (a rarity if you ask me-- the rebounds of course), Spears with 21 and 7 to go with Simon's 20. Ginebra was led by Brumfield's 29 and 15 (absolute beast in the paint) and Caguioa's 16. Noticeably absent from that list is 2-time MVP Willie Miller, who found himself glued to the bench in favor of rookie John Wilson.

If anything, B-Meg will have Kerby Raymundo back in the fold after seven months, while Ginebra is still waiting for Jayjay Helterbrand's hamstring to get stronger. The starting backcourt of Mike Cortez and Miller simply doesn't work for this team (blame it on Miller's lackadaisical approach, and Cortez' lack of focus).