San Miguel resumes Top 2 chase, Star looks to extend streak
San Miguel Beer is in hot pursuit of a Top Two spot while Star is sizzling on a three-game romp when they clash in an exciting Easter Sunday matchup in the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Both gun for win. No. 5 as they face off at 5:15 p.m. in a match featuring a marquee import showdown between Tyler Wilkerson and Ricardo Ratcliffe.
Wilkerson averaged 34.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 2.0 assists and 1.2 steals in San Miguel’s strong 4-2 start in the mid-season tourney. Ratcliffe, meanwhile, normed 24 markers, 14.3 boards, 2.3 blocks and 2.0 assists, with the Hotshots going 3-of-3 with him thus far.
The two teams are expected to come out strong from the tourney’s brief breather in observance of Lent.
June Mar Fajardo has surely benefited from the break.The reigning back-to-back MVP winner is likely to return from a one-game layoff as he wages war with Rafi Reavis, Ian Sangalang, Jake Pascual and Marc Pingris.
At 4-2, San Miguel is in strong contention for a Top Two finish and its reward of a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals. The Beermen are right behind the Meralco Bolt (6-2), the Alaska Milk Aces (5-3) and the Barangay Ginebra Kings (5-3).
Star, meanwhile, is with Rain or Shine, Mahindra and Tropang TNT in the middle of chart with identical 4-4 records.
The big thing going with the Hotshots is the momentum of a three-game romp versus the Texters (96-88), the Phoenix Fuel Masters (91-75) and the Globalport Batang Pier (127-100).
Star coach Jason Webb is hopeful they can get going and get better entering the homestretch of the elims and, if ever, in the playoffs.
“You always have to think that you can get better, and I think we still can on both ends of the floor, and make basketball easy for us,” said Webb.
“We’re really looking to get better and to progress in the tournament,” added Webb, hoping they can redeem themselves from their disappointing ninth-place finish in the Philippine Cup.
But now comes the reigning two-conference champ for the Hotshots.
“We prepared hard for them. Hopefully, the game plan works,” said Webb.
The Beermen have zoomed to the top with victories over Globalport (120-109), Blackwater (108-96), Meralco (94-86) and Alaska (116-96). Their two losses came at the hands of Mahindra (96-102) and Rain or Shine (105-108).
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