Games on Tuesday
(Filoil EcoOil Center)
5pm – Blackwater vs Eastern
7:30 pm – San Miguel vs Rain or Shine
SAN MIGUEL BEER (SMB)’s title defense bid in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup got off to a shaky start and with serious challengers waiting to pounce, the Beermen settled better.
Their opening act ended with a 107-104 win over Phoenix but it didn’t impress as the Beermen trailed by 16 points and needed a strong kick to escape embarrassment.
Coach Jorge Gallent’s team then exposed it in their second game against NLEX, taking a 19-point lead but a big outburst in the midst of a fourth quarter storm by Robert Bolick made it a 99-104 setback instead.
L was so bitter that Mr. Gallent and his staff kept to themselves in the locker room for an hour after the game to discuss things and refused to entertain questions from the media.
However, SMB has a chance to make quick amends and turn things around today but must do so against Rain or Shine (also 1-1) on the way at 7:30pm at the Filoil EcoOil Centre. .
The Elasto Warriors showed their ability to take down the powerhouse with a resounding 99-81 demolition of visiting team Hong Kong (HK) Eastern on Dec. 4 past.
And Yeng Guiao’s troops led by Deon Thompson, Leonard Santillan, Adrian Nocum and Jhonard Clarito carried out the raid on Quincy Miller, June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez and the rest of the SMB while they were still struggling to find their place.
Meanwhile, Eastern (3-1) is looking for sole possession of third place as it will face winless Blackwater (0-2) in the 5pm curtain raiser.
George King and a determined Bossing gunned for success on fresh legs after their nine-day break. They are also expected to be a minority of HK players competing in the PBA, their domestic league and the East Asia Super League.
“Each game is difficult, each game is a new challenge,” said coach Mensur Bajramovic, whose wards recently won 105-84 in the list of nominees for the Governors’ Cup TNT. “PBA teams have different styles of play and in each game we need to make changes.”
X’s and O’s aside, Eastern has learned the hard way how to adapt to Metro Manila’s traffic conditions. Finally, the team took a long time to leave their hotel in Quezon City and had to get the players dressed again on the bus and went straight to the warm-up when they arrived at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
With this slide in San Juan City, it will take Mpumalanga a short distance and travel time.
Notes: NLEX guard Kevin Alas returned to the Ynares Center in Antipolo last Sunday without worrying about playing again in the same place where he tore his ACL three times before. “Just that the Lord allowed it to happen in my life,” said Mr. “I believe that the Lord is king in my life, I know that maybe it is difficult to hear my third injury. It comforts me to know that Jehovah is in control of my life.” – Olmin Leyba
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