Beermen, Kings face off; Santos ready to suit up

Titleholder San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra both try to improve their spots in the Top Four as they clash in a keenly awaited match in the PBA Governors Cup at the MOA Arena in Pasay City Sunday.

Game time is at 6:45 p.m. with SMB coach Leo Austria wary of possible rustiness of his team as they haven’t played a game in two weeks.

The Kings returned from the All-Star break on Wednesday and stretched their streak to three games with a 107-95 lashing of the Blackwater Elite over at the Big Dome.

San Miguel had collected three wins against a loss before the All-Star Weekend. The Beermen plunge back into action with ace forward Arwind Santos back in harness.

“I’m ready. Hopefully, makatulong ako for us to sustain a good start in this tournament,” said Santos, missing their first four games after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to clear foreign objects in his ankle.

Minus Santos, the Beermen still piled up W’s largely behind the exploits of AZ Reid, June Mar Fajardo and Alex Cabagnot.

Reid averages 35.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists, Fajardo norms 19.5 markers and 10.0 boards while Cabagnot puts in 18.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per outing.

Their lone loss was an 103-105 upset by Mahindra.

Ginebra is half-game ahead of San Miguel at 4-1, and LA Tenorio said it’s an indication that the Ginebra players have jelled with one another.

“Hindi lang nagkakakapaan na, talagang nagkakaamuyan na,” said Tenorio.

“Gaganda pa ang laro namin nyan once bumalik na sila Greg (Slaughter) at Chris (Ellis),” Tenorio added.

Justin Brownlee has been providing boost with his norms of 27.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.3 steals.

“Brownlee worked hard (during the break) with coach Kirk Collier to get in shape,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.

Brownlee pushed himself hard in the second half, scoring 10 points in the third period and nine in the fourth to anchor Ginebra’s steady finish versus Blackwater.

Tenorio and Brownlee combined for three straight treys as Ginebra broke the back of Blackwater, 103-97, entering the last two minutes of the game.

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