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Beermen, Kings mix it up tonight
By: Zean Macamay, Journal Online
NO one doubts how mighty San Miguel Beer is man-for-man. Everyone, it seems, is uncertain whether Ginebra is healthy
enough at this point.
In a rematch of last season’s Fiesta Conference Finals, San Miguel Beer and Ginebra square off in an early meeting of
heavyweight teams, the attention heavily leaning on the Beermen over how fluid they are this early in the KFC-PBA Philippine
Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
San Miguel has become even much stronger since ending a four-year title drought last July by defeating its sister team in
seven games for the season-ending tournament crown, snatching Arwind Santos and Denok Miranda during the off-season
to beef up its defensive rank.
That will surely come in very handy for coach Siot Tanquingcen as he tries to steer the Beermen to a second straight title,
complementing a line-up that is highly regarded for its offense.
“Mark and Erik (Menk) are 80 percent (healthy),” admitted the eight-time champion coach. “We are a wait-and-see team right
now. How we will be able to adjust to each other, to the system and team chemistry.”
Ginebra lost Raffi Reavies and Paul Artadi to trades during the season break. In return, they acquired veteran guard Celino
Cruz, Rich Alvarez and big man Enrico Villanueva.
By: Zean Macamay, Journal Online
NO one doubts how mighty San Miguel Beer is man-for-man. Everyone, it seems, is uncertain whether Ginebra is healthy
enough at this point.
In a rematch of last season’s Fiesta Conference Finals, San Miguel Beer and Ginebra square off in an early meeting of
heavyweight teams, the attention heavily leaning on the Beermen over how fluid they are this early in the KFC-PBA Philippine
Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
San Miguel has become even much stronger since ending a four-year title drought last July by defeating its sister team in
seven games for the season-ending tournament crown, snatching Arwind Santos and Denok Miranda during the off-season
to beef up its defensive rank.
That will surely come in very handy for coach Siot Tanquingcen as he tries to steer the Beermen to a second straight title,
complementing a line-up that is highly regarded for its offense.
- While it lost Marc Pingris, the Beermen were fortunate to have
Lordy Tugade back. Danny Seigle, according to Tanquingcen, is
slowly trying his very best to return to the form that once made
him a feared scoring threat.
- “He’s trying to get there,” said Tanquingcen of Seigle. “But it
would take time.”
- No team has won back-to-back titles since the two-conference
format was introduced. Yet judging San Miguel’s cast, that feat
may just come to an end.
- “It’s flattering to be ranked as a contender but it doesn’t mean a
thing if we can’t perform as a unit inside the court,” said
Tanquingcen. “Playing Ginebra is always hard, more so now that
they got Mark (Caguiao) back.”
- A healthy Ginebra is a good match for San Miguel. But Gin Kings
coach Jong Uichico said that the most popular team has yet to
reach the chemistry that he desires now that Mark Caguioa has
returned after missing the entire 2008-09 season.
“Mark and Erik (Menk) are 80 percent (healthy),” admitted the eight-time champion coach. “We are a wait-and-see team right
now. How we will be able to adjust to each other, to the system and team chemistry.”
Ginebra lost Raffi Reavies and Paul Artadi to trades during the season break. In return, they acquired veteran guard Celino
Cruz, Rich Alvarez and big man Enrico Villanueva.
