FOR COACH MANNY
Kia wants to win this one badly.
Ranged against a formidable opponent in San Miguel Beer, the Sorento hope to defy the odds and score a win that they could offer to playing coach Manny Pacquiao before his fight with Chris Algieri in Macau Sunday.
Missing the goal versus the Barako Bull Energy Sunday, the Sorento take another shot at it against the Beermen before leaving for Macau to be at ringside during the fight.
For the Beermen, the goal is another win that could boost their bid for a Top Two finish or an outright passage into the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.
The Beermen and the Sorento clash in a key game at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Sorento have been bleeding since winning their PBA debut against the Blackwater Elite during the season inaugurals at the Philippine Arena on Oct. 19.
They’re fighting for survival at 1-6.
The Beermen, on the other hand, are assured of a playoff spot at 5-1. The question is whether they can hang onto the top two till the end of the one-round-robin elims phase.
“Of course, yung ang target namin. Malaking bagay kung nasa semis ka na agad,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.
June Mar Fajardo and Arwind Santos beat out Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar at endgame of their exciting showdowns, and San Miguel stopped Barangay Ginebra, 79-77, on its tracks to seize second place in the leader board.
Fajardo and Santos combined for 43 points, including seven inside the last 25 seconds enabling the Beermen to survive a shaky finish and dislodge the Kings at second.
“Napagod kami ng husto because we prepared for three days for Ginebra, and I’m so happy we got this crucial win. It’s a good step in our big for a Top Two finish,” said Austria. (SB)
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