MANILA, Philippines - Smart Gilas had its first taste of the pro play’s physical game yesterday, unable to sustain a steady stand and absorbing a 105-115 defeat at the hands of Burger King in a fight-marred tiff in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum yesterday.

“I think they will get better as they get tougher. The PBA brand of game is less physical than those played in Fiba Asia,” said Burger King coach Yeng Guiao.

“As they gain experience and make the adjustment to the physical game, they’ll get their wins,” Guiao added.

But not for now.

The Whoppers outfought the RP aspirants with a spirited game, marked by four flagrant fouls with one leading to a fight between Wynne Arboleda and a Smart Gilas fan, Alain Katigbak, in the second quarter.

Heckled by Katigbak no end after his flagrant foul on Macmac Baracael, Arboleda lost his cool and attacked the Gilas fan on his seat in the first row of Patron Box.

Katigbak suffered a lump on his face as he took at least four blows from Arboleda before the BK player was restrained by security men.

Arboleda is likely to draw stiff sanction from the Commissioner’s Office for grave misconduct.

Beau Belga came through with a double-double game with 17 points and 11 rebounds while Ronjay Buenafe and Gary David put in 25 and 24 points, respectively, as BK beat Smart Gilas in its initial outing in the tourney.

BK did a good job neutralizing Smart Gilas big men Japeth Aguilar and CJ Giles as the Whoppers bounced back from a loss to Purefoods in the season opener Sunday.

For Guiao, the win eased the impact his Powerade Team’s setback dealt by Smart Gilas during a charity match last Oct. 5.

“It’s nice to win against Smart Gilas when it really counts. And it’s more satisfying because they beef up for this game,” said Guiao.

“The key really is preparation. It’s difficult to play them without preparation even if you have the best talents in the league. That Powerade-Gilas game is a big help for us tonight,” Guiao added.

Aguilar got 18 points and six rebounds as he rejoined Gilas after a one-game stint with BK.

Giles, the American player being eyed by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas for naturalization, finished with only 12 points and seven rebounds as he got into foul-trouble early and eventually fouled out with over six minutes left to play. – Nelson Beltran

The scores:

First Game

Burger King 115 – Buenafe 25, David 24, Belga 17, Lanete 14, Yee 11, Quinahan 9, Yee R. 7, Aban 5, Sharma 2, Matias 1, Billones 0, Arboleda 0.

Smart Gilas 105 – Casio 28, Tiu 21, Aguilar 18, Baracael 14, Giles 12, Barroca 4, Ballesteros 4, Al Hussaini 2, Ababou 2, Cawaling 0, Ramos 0.

Quarterscores: 27-29, 54-55, 85-82, 115-105

“It’s nice to win against Smart Gilas when it really counts. And it’s more satisfying because they beef up for this game,” said Guiao.

“The key really is preparation. It’s difficult to play them without preparation even if you have the best talents in the league. That Powerade-Gilas game is a big help for us tonight,” Guiao added.

Aguilar got 18 points and six rebounds as he rejoined Gilas after a one-game stint with BK.

Giles, the American player being eyed by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas for naturalization, finished with only 12 points and seven rebounds as he got into foul-trouble early and eventually fouled out with over six minutes left to play. (by Nelson Beltran - PhilStar)