Beermen, Hotshots cross paths
San Miguel Beer is coming off a first loss while Star rides the momentum of a first win as they mix it up Sunday in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.
The Beermen and the Hotshots clash at 6:45 p.m. in a duel of the last two teams to bag the coveted crown in the season-ending tourney.
Star, with the same import that it is with now in Marqus Blakely, was back-to-back Governors Cup champ in 2013 and 2014, a feat Arizona Reid and the Beermen are trying to duplicate this conference.
After a 2-0 win-loss start, the Beermen stumbled in a 103-105 upset by the Mahindra Enforcers in the presence of the latter’s supposed playing coach Manny Pacquiao.
Reid had a personal conference-high 43 points on top of 11 rebounds, but could not prevent SMB from falling to a 2-1 slate, missing a three-point attempt in the last two seconds.
The Beermen are now hoping to recover right away and get back on track versus a Star side that shoots for a second straight win following a 105-102 escape act in overtime versus the Globalport Batang Pier.
Trade acquisition RR Garcia scattered 26 points, including eight in OT, to lift the Hotshots past his original PBA team Globalport.
Before finally breaking into the win-column, Garcia and his teammates suffered heartbreakers to Mahindra (92-100 also in overtime) and Blackwater (98-100).
Star coach Jason Webb hopes they can build on their victory over the Batang Pier.
Both teams ache to pick up a win before the tourney takes a brief break to give way to the 2016 PBA All-Star Extravaganza.
SMB coach Leo Austria calls the shots for the South All Stars versus their North counterparts to be handled by Rain or Shine bench chieftain Yeng Guiao.
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