Beermen, Aces clash for first time since historic finals
Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
The residue of their recent finals encounter is still in the air when San Miguel Beer and Alaska clash in the 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.
The classic Philippine Cup finale will come back to mind as the Beermen and the Aces mix it up at 7 p.m. both pursuing top playoff aspirations in the mid-season conference.
June Mar Fajardo’s status is uncertain, much the same during the all-Filipino title playoff when he came out to play only in Game Five onwards, helping the Beermen make their “Beeraculous” championship run.
The two teams figure in a crucial grudge match with Alaska (5-1) chasing an outright playoff entry while San Miguel is out to close in on Alaska and Meralco as it guns for a fourth win against two losses.
Like all the other teams, the Aces and the Beermen are raring to book a Top Two finish which offers a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
Going into the game, the Aces leads the pack in the race having won all their last five games after dropping their conference debut that they played minus an import.
With Shane Edwards in tow, the Aces have been perfect at 5-of-5, rolling past Tropang TNT, Rain or Shine, Phoenix, Barangay Ginebra and Globalport.
And now comes an opportunity to score some measure of revenge against their Philippine Cup finals tormentor.
San Miguel is currently at fourth place with victories against Globalport, Blackwater and Meralco against losses to Mahindra and Rain or Shine.
An exciting side battle is that between Edwards and Tyler Wilkerson, among the most impressive in the current cast of imports.
Wilkerson averages 35.2 points, 12 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steal while Edwards norms 27.6 points, 13.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.2 blocks and 1.8 steals.
The Aces have been on a swashbuckling ride while also getting consistent solid numbers from Calvin Abueva and Vic Manuel.
Abueva is logging in 16.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.3 steals a game while Manuel piles up 16.0 markers and 3.3 boards per game.
For San Miguel, local players averaging in double figures are Marcio Lassiter (16.2 ppg), Alex Cabagnot (13.2), Fajardo (11.2) and Arwind Santos (10.7).
Fajardo and Santos, however, are recovering from their respective injuries. For Alaska, out on injuries the last time out were Cyrus Baguio and Jvee Casio.
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