SHORT BREATHER FOR ACES, BEERMEN

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At the end of their Philippine Cup title showdown Wednesday, San Miguel Beer and Alaska get just a two-week breather and immediately return to action in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup that comes off the wraps on Jan. 27 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Aces open their second conference campaign versus the defending champs Purefoods Star Hotshots on Feb. 3 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum while the Beermen debut in the tourney against the Kia Sorento and playing coach Manny Pacquiao the following day also at the Big Dome.

San Miguel Beer will be reinforced by import Arinze Onuaku while Alaska is pinning its hopes on DJ Covington after failing to get the release papers of original choice Rob Dozier from the Dubai league.

With Dozier as their import, the Aces ruled the Commissioner’s Cup two years ago. Dozier went home with the Best Import award in the tourney.

Dozier, however, failed to wriggle out of his contractual obligation with his team in the Dubai league, prompting the Aces to tap in Covington, twice the Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Year from the Virginia Military Institute.

San Miguel and Alaska had similar sad fates in the second conference last season, both higher seeds that were upset in the quarterfinals.

As the second seed, San Miguel then enjoyed a twice-to-beat advantage only to be crushed by the Air21 Express two in a row.

The third-ranked Aces, for their part, won the opening game of their best-of-three duel with the San Mig Coffee Mixers only to drop the next two.

Both, however, are expected to bounce back this season as they enjoy momentum and high spirit from a Finals stint in the Philippine Cup.

The format of the Commissioner’s Cup is a little shorter than the Philippine Cup with only the top eight teams after the single round robin elimination phase advancing to the playoffs.

The top two teams enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage versus the No. 7 and No. 8 teams. The third-ranked team collides with No. 6 while the fourth seed clashes with No. 5 in a pair of best-of-three series.

The last four figure in best-of-five semifinal playoffs with the winners slugging it out in a best-of-seven titular showdown.

The mid-season tourney fires off on Jan. 27 with a doubleheader pitting Kia Sorento versus GlobalPort at4:15 p.m. and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel opposite Meralco at 7 p.m.

As a special treat to the fans, the Mall of Asia Arena General Admission section will be open for free.

The next two playdates are set at the nearby Cuneta Astrodome. Blackwater takes on Barako Bull at 4:15 p.m. and then Talk n Text tackles Rain or Shine at 7 p.m. on Jan. 28. Two days later, Meralco faces off with Kia at 4:15 p.m. while Purefoods Star squares off with GlobalPort at 7 p.m.

The league visits Biñan, Laguna; Polomolok, South Cotabato; Dipolog City, Cagayan de Oro, Tubod, Lanao del Norte; Davao City and Panabo City in road games in the elimination round that will take a brief break on March 5-8 to give way to the All-Star Weekend in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. (SB)

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