STREAKING BEERMEN UP AGAINST SKIDDING ENERGY
After a hard earned 92-90 victory over San Mig Super Coffee last Sunday, many people expect San Miguel Beer to finally get its bearings going after its first game hiccup against Alaska.
The assumption becomes more of a fact after SMB reinforcement Reggie Williams almost nabbed a triple-double in the victory after posting 29 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, while MVP contender June Mar Fajardo had his usual double-double performance with 18 points and 18 rebounds.
But the common knowledge bends once the ball is up in the air and the buzzer sounds, as the Beermen battle Barako Bull Wednesday in the 2014 PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors’ Cup.
Active consultant Todd Purves is happy with the performance of his import.
“Williams really pushed himself minutes wise, and he missed a couple of free throws late in the game I think because of fatigue, and he just keeps on battling,” he said.
“He takes great care of his body too, before and after practice. He puts in the work so it doesn’t surprise me that he is in that type of physical condition,” Purves added. “This is a sprint and I’m glad that he’s in shape to be in it.”
However, Marcio Lassiter is expected to miss the game after suffering a deep cut from diving after the ball early in their San Mig Coffee game.
In spite of this, Purves just kept on telling his boys that the team needs to improve if they want to have a return trip to the Finals, something which the team achieved in last season’s Governors’ Cup, where they fell short against the Mixers, 4-3.
“We won our last two games and it feels good, but we understand that we have to keep on playing better cause you have to play your best basketball come playoff time, not in the beginning of the season,” he said.
“It feels good when you end up on top on a scoreboard perspective, but we have a very long way to go in playing the type of basketball we need to at the end of the season.”
San Miguel eyes its third straight victory, while the Energy want to break their two-game slump when the game tips off at 5:45 at the Alonte Sports Complex in Biñan, Laguna.
After that breakthrough win for coach Siot Tanquingcen, Barako Bull lost its next games against San Mig Coffee and Air21.
The Energy will once again be relying on their import Eric Wise, and revelations Carlo Lastimosa and Jeric Fortuna.
Curiously, the Beermen will be facing a former coach in Tanquingcen, who steered San Miguel from 2007 to 2010, and gave the franchise the 2009 Fiesta Conference championship. (RL)
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