PACESETTING BOOSTERS BATTLE HARDLUCK SUPER COFFEE MIXERS
San Mig Coffee and Petron Blaze are not delving on the past as they brace for their showdown in the PLDT MyDSL PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.
For both, their recent Governors Cup title duel is a thing of the past. It is not a dugout matter.
For, indeed, this is an entirely new ball game. Marqus Blakely is gone for San Mig Coffee while Elijah Millsap is no longer there for Petron Blaze.
The two teams have similar concern – how to fight through injuries to a number of players.
The Boosters were successful in their first two games, overcoming the Globalport Batang Pier then the Talk n Text Tropang Texters.
The Mixers were not, dropping their first two assignments versus the Barangay Ginebra Kings and against the Alaska Milk Aces.
The Boosters go for early solo league leadership while the Mixers try to get off the rut in their 8 p.m. duel.
Despite their health woes, the Boosters are off to a strong start in the all-Filipino tourney, coming from their heartbreaking loss to the Mixers in Game Seven of the 2013 Governors Cup finale.
“We are just trying to grind it out. We have a lot of guys trying to get healthy and now Chris Ross won’t also be able to help us because of a strained hamstring,” said Petron coach Gee Abanilla.
“We will just fight through it and try to hold the fort. We want to build character and show resiliency when faced with adversity,” Abanilla added.
The Mixers are not about to panic with two their 0-2 start.
“I believe we have the personnel in our locker room to get it done,” said San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone, confident they’re now on their way to barging the win-column.
Cone, however, said they have to juggle things up.
“It’s hasn’t been pretty for us so far. We’ve had to hurry along our rookies more than we would have wanted because of injuries to some of our veterans, and that has been a disruption,” he said.
“No one is going to feel sorry for us and we can’t look for excuses. It doesn’t get easier with Petron up next. Despite their injuries, they are up to their level,” he added.
Petron drubbed Globalport, 97-87, last Wednesday then clobbered Talk n Text, 77-63, Saturday. (SB)
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.