SAN MIG COFFEE LOOKS TO ADD TO BARAKO BULL’S WOES
San Mig Coffee and Barako Bull both look for some sort of resurrection as they clash in the main game of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Easter Sunday presentation at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Mixers seek improvement from their up-and-down ride while the Energy Cola hope to arrest a six-game slide and find new life entering the homestretch of the elimination round.
Game time is at 6:30 p.m.
“It’s been a struggle for us to stay in contention. We really needed a win to get over the hump,” said San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone as they outfought the Aces, 84-83, in a battle on March 23 before enjoying a lengthy Holy Week break.
Barako Bull is on a tougher struggle, losing all of its last six games after a strong 3-1 start. Part of that start was a 79-75 win over an import-less San Mig Coffee side on Feb. 8.
Going winless for over a month, the Energy Cola are now fighting for survival, making them once again a big threat against the Mixers.
“We’re mixing and matching without Joe (Devance) out there, and our guards haven’t been stellar this conference,” said Cone.
The multi-titled American coach, however, is hopeful they can use their win over the Aces the last time out as a springboard for a strong finish in the elims.
At 5-5, San Mig Coffee is tied at fourth place with Barangay Ginebra, Air21, Talk n Text and Meralco.
Alaska (8-3), Rain or Shine (7-3) and Petron (6-4) are the front-runners in the race for the Top Two leaving San Mig Coffee, Air21, Ginebra, Talk n Text and Meralco in a tight battle for the slots in the best-of-three quarterfinals (No. 3 versus No. 6 and No. 4 opposite No. 5).
A win over Barako Bull guarantees San Mig Coffee a playoff crack at a quarters seat. But the Mixers, of course, would try to avoid No. 7 and No. 8 spots or they play a team enjoying a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
Denzel Bowles churned out a giant double-double game with 30 points and 23 rebounds and Marc Pingris came through in the clutch as San Mig Coffee pulled off an escape act versus Alaska.
The Mixers barely pulled through, improving Cone’s record to 8-0 against the Aces.
“It doesn’t get more exciting than that on a Saturday night,” said Cone of the key victory allowing San Mig Coffee to go back to .500 mark.
Excitement is now a strange word for Barako Bull. The Energy Cola, however, are not losing hope they can turn their fortunes around sooner than later. (SB)
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