FIRST STEP
A journey of a thousand miles starts with a first step.
New Barako Bull coach Siot Tanquingcen used that adage in describing things to do at the Energy camp.
The same goes with San Mig Super Coffee insofar as its chase for the third and final gem to complete a grand slam season is concerned.
With all eyes on them, the Mixers take that first step in their Triple Crown aspirations as they face the Energy in Day Three of the PBA PLDT Home Telpad Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesdaynight.
Coach Tim Cone and his chargers get back into action barely five days after claiming the Commissioner’s Cup championship that put them in a position to shoot for the grand slam.
As an initial goal, Barako, on the other hand, is merely looking to make the post-elims play which it missed the last time under coach Bong Ramos.
The Mixers and the Energy clash at 8 p.m.
Eric Wise, son of 80s great Francois, made quite an impression in his PBA debut Sunday, leading Barako Bull to a 95-94 squeaker over the Meralco Bolts.
“He’s not the flashiest and doesn’t have the best credentials, but somehow does the job,” said Tanquingcen of Wise, the second second-generation import that has played in the local pro league (next to Tony Washam of B-Meg, son of Tony Washam Sr. of Gilbey’s Gin).
Wise, at least in his PBA debut, lived up to the playing reputation of his dad.
The older Wise, now a member of the LAPD elite force, had career averages of 36.7 points, 15 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.1 steals in five PBA seasons played with U-Tex, Tanduay, Manila Beer and Hills Bros from 1981-87. He ranked No. 6 in the all-time scoring ladder with 4,332 points behind Norman Black, Bobby Parks, Sean Chambers, Lew Massey and Billy Ray Bates and No. 7 in all-time rebounds with 1,769 behind Black, Parks, Chambers, Byron Snake Jones, Billy Robinson and Andrew Fields.
But now comes Eric’s baptism of fire against reigning Best Import Marqus Blakely and the reigning three-peat champs Mixers.
The Triple Crown should be more than enough motivation for the Mixers to come out and get back to work following their recent conquest of the Talk n Text Tropang Texters.
San Mig coach Tim Cone, the league’s winningest with 17 crowns, insists they will not complain or make their tiring Commissioner’s Cup run as an excuse for the Governors Cup.
“I don’t want our guys complaining about the sked or how tired they are. We’ll keep pushing and see what we can do,” said Cone.
“We’ll focus on things that we have control of – sticking to our game plan and discipline on what we want to do. Hopefully, we can continue to do that through the next conference,” Cone also said.
“We’re gonna try to lean on the energy of Marqus and (the comebacking) Allein Maliksi, and see what we can do. We’ll try to get ourselves ride at some point of the conference, and see if we can make a run out of it,” Cone added. (SB)
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