Games on today:
(Ninoy Aquino Stadium)
4:30 p.m. — San Miguel Beer vs Terrafirma
7:30 p.m. — Magnolia vs NorthPort
San Miguel Beer head coach Jorge Gallent is wary of how dangerous Terrafirma is especially with the young trio of Juami Tiongson, Stephen Holt and Javi Gomez de Liano leading the way.
So, the mentor expects another tough battle as the defending champions stake their pristine record anew in the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Beermen are unbeaten in four games but being perfect is not an assurance they will easily snatch win No. 5 against the determined Dyip in their 4:30 p.m. curtain-raiser match in the league’s featured double-header in its 49th anniversary celebration.
“That team is playing well and their losses were kind of tight so we cannot be overconfident with this team. We just have to play hard. Play our usual game and not be complacent about it,” Gallent said.
San Miguel escaped Barangay Ginebra in a tight ballgame, 95-92, last Friday in its previous outing.
Terrafirma, on the other hand, had an easier time getting rid of the Gin Kings, 91-85, last Sunday to get back on the winning track for a 4-3 win-loss record at solo fourth spot.
It was Tingson, Gomez de Liano and Holt who did most of the damage in the game with their energy and composure as the Dyip kept the veteran-laden team at bay.
Gallent doesn’t want Terrafirma to get their running game going. After all, transition defense had been the Beermen’s Achilles’ heel in the tournament.
“We try to improve and try to get better at the things that we had to get better at. Our transition defense wasn’t that good in these four games, but it’s getting there. We just have to practice it more and see what happens,” he said.
Meanwhile, hot-streaking NorthPort has been displaying consistency in its level of play resulting in an impressive run in the ongoing All-Filipino conference.
In fact, the Batang Pier are riding the crest of a four-game winning run that put them in the thick of the battle for the twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals reserved for the top two teams after the elimination round.
Head coach Bonnie Tan expects his wards to bring the same energy and hunger they’ve shown in the past outings as they go for a fifth straight win and a share of the second spot against a suddenly struggling Magnolia.
“Praying for consistency for the next three weeks. We still have six more remaining games. Hopefully, we’ll play consistent and for sure we’ll be in a better spot after this elimination,” said Tan, who will try to steer his club to its longest Philippine Cup win run in franchise history.
Game time is at 7:30 p.m.
NorthPort carries a 4-1 slate at third spot just behind San Miguel and idle NLEX (5-1).
The Batang Pier blew out TNT, 112-96, last Friday behind Arvin Tolentino, who is averaging 22.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game, and JM Calma.
The Hotshots are on a two-game slump following a 74-87 loss to NLEX last Saturday.
Magnolia will welcome the return of Calvin Abueva from a one-game suspension with hopes of arresting its skid.
The PBA, which played its first game on 9 April 1975 as Asia’s first play-for-pay basketball league, will give away free entrance tickets for the first 100 fans.
Eligible for the promo include fans to show up in a groupie with their PBA idol, with memorabilia bearing the signature of their favorite PBA player, or with a Facebook post watching a game in a PBA jersey.
