INTENSE MATCH-UP
SAN Mig Super Coffee and San Miguel Beer were supposed to meet in the season-opening PBA Philippine Cup finale, but fate had other plans.
A glimpse of what could have been should be had when the two collide Saturday in the lone offering of the PLDT Home Tvolution PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.
It should be a close one since each is eyeing a victory that would stoke its chances of landing No. 2 at the end of the eliminations phase and taking the last win-once advantage in the ensuing quarterfinals.
“Every time we play San Mig we bring out the best of both teams,” noted SMB coach Biboy Ravanes, who took over the former Petron Blaze team after it bowed out to Rain or Shine in the Philippine Cup semifinals.
“You always have your hands full when you go up against San Miguel,” countered San Mig coach Tim Cone, who is bidding to steer his Mixers to a third title in as many conferences.
The Beermen will be seeing action for the first time since dropping a 78-89 decision to Alaska last March 29 and how his team shakes off that loss and have the strength to match San Mig’s are Ravanes’ main concerns.
“Momentum is on their side, unlike us. We just came from a two-week break,” said Ravanes. “Hopefully, we could match their energy as we look to stop the whole team.”
Indeed, the Mixers are coming off a cruising 97-84 win over Air21 just last Wednesday, snapping them out of a two-game slide before the All-Star break and keeping them lodged at third-running spot.
For Cone, it’s all about his charges putting to naught SMB’s well-stocked arsenal led by Kevin Jones, Arwind Santos, Marcio Lassiter and June Mar Fajardo.
“They have so many weapons to account for. They really force the tempo and they have a really good in-and-out action with Fajardo and Jones,” said Cone.
It should be all about making the necessary stops and San Mig’s own offense, anchored on James Mays, PJ Simon, Mark Barroca, James Yap and Marc Pingris, clicking, especially with so much at stake.
“Big game in terms of standing, so both teams should be ready,” stressed Cone. (NC)
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