GETTING ON TRACK
BEING the tried and tested team that San Mig Coffee is, it is only reasonable to expect it would soon snap out of its funk in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
The Mixers must start Wednesday against GlobalPort at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, or else figure in a mad scramble.
Having lost their first two games to last year’s finals tormentor Rain or Shine and, more surprisingly, Air21, San Mig is wallowing in the cellar.
The bad start is least expected from the Mixers, who have been billed as one of the pre-tourney favorites and their situation is worsened by the fact only the top eight teams following the nine-game eliminations advance to the playoffs.
Now comes GlobalPort, which is aiming to get back on track after absorbing a 74-94 loss to the Elasto Painters last Friday.
“Learn from our last game and move forward. Crucial for us tomorrow to establish flow in offense and sturdiness in defense early,” said Batang Pier coach Junel Baculi.
What makes GlobalPort’s situation relatively more tolerable than the Mixers is the fact it already has a win to show after opening the conference with a 101-94 conquest of Air21 last week.
That doesn’t give Baculi too much comfort, however.
“San Mig is an explosive team. We have to play resolute defense,” said Baculi, whose team also felt the effects of the monsoon rains as Sol Mercado, Willie Miller and Mark Yee were unable to attend yesterday’s practice.
Yet the rest of the Batang Pier were there, including Markeith Cummings, who has been one consistent source of hope for the crew.
Despite playing outside the US for only the first time, the 24-year-old has been averaging 30.0 points and 12.5 rebounds, numbers that belie his relative inexperience.
San Mig’s Marqus Blakely has been displaying lethal form with his own two-game norms of 31.5 points and 22.5 rebounds but conspicuously a non-factor thus far for coach Tim Cone is James Yap, who has so far averaged just 5.0 ppg. (NC)
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