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Beermen try to stay hot
By: Zean Macamay, Journal Online
THE first time San Miguel Beer met Sta. Lucia Realty, the result was a rout. Coach Siot Tanquingcen doesn’t expect the
Realtors to fall again that easily this time.
Bracing for a tougher and another defense-oriented game against Sta. Lucia, San Miguel Beer today shoots for its ninth
straight victory in a battle featuring the clash of the top two candidates for the Best Player of the Conference even as Ginebra
takes on Barako Bull in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Beermen have not lost since an 85-76 defeat to the Alaska Aces last Oct. 17, and are still the ones favored to prevail in
the 7:30 p.m. match-up since San Miguel ho-hummed to an 88-69 win over the Realtors when these two teams squared off
in the first round last Nov. 7.
Yet things may turn out entirely different this time, and Tanquingcen is preparing for whatever defensive adjustments the
Realtors have created to offset San Miguel’s dreaded firepower.
“We have to execute well offensively because we all know how good a defensive team Sta. Lucia is,” said Tanquingcen. “At
the same time, we must also be able to defend well and not allow them to make easy shots.”
Sta. Lucia has not really gotten into a consistent groove, ending the first round eliminations with five wins and four losses.
This game, however, could kick off the spark it needs if it could come out on top in the end and snap the Beermen’s eight-
game winning streak, a tournament best.
SLR coach Boyet Fernandez is well aware of the tough game at hand, but gave an assurance that the Realtors have always
been ready.
“We are ready as always, it’s just a matter of executing our game plan and playing solid defense,” said Fernandez. “We can’t
afford silly mistakes against a team like San Miguel, meaning we have to play our A-game if we want to entertain thoughts of
winning.”
What will certainly make the match-up pretty interesting is the face-off between Arwind Santos and Kelly Williams, the top
two players fighting out for the BPC honors. Right now, the San Miguel forward is leading the race (38.9 statistical points),
with the Fil-Am closely behind with 38.1 SPs.
Santos was all over the court when San Miguel collected its eighth win in a 100-85 victory over Burger King last Sunday. The
former FEU hotshot had a game-high 27 points, 12 rebounds and blocked six shots to go with four assists and two steals.
The Gin Kings, meantime, will be shooting for their seventh win, hoping that they could bring a mentality of no mercy against
a team that has been giving heavyweight ball clubs a lot of scares.
“We are not in a position to allow them to engage us in a close contest in the end,” said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico. “They
have been losing close games.”
Although a team with only two wins to show in 10 games, the Energy Boosters have been trying hard to pull off surprises. In
their last outing against Alaska, the Boosters nearly pulled off another stunning outcome by coming back from a 20-point
deficit but lost steam in the end to absorb a 99-88 defeat.
Ginebra beat Barako Bull in the first round (94-86) in a game where it missed the services of Jay-Jay Helterbrand. Cyrus
Baguio, however, stepped up against his former team by scoring a game-high 22 points on a superb 8-of-11 shooting from
the field.
The Gin Kings are also coming off a victory over Coca-Cola, 113-104, behind Ronald Tubid’s 33 points and the 22 of Baguio.
By: Zean Macamay, Journal Online
THE first time San Miguel Beer met Sta. Lucia Realty, the result was a rout. Coach Siot Tanquingcen doesn’t expect the
Realtors to fall again that easily this time.
Bracing for a tougher and another defense-oriented game against Sta. Lucia, San Miguel Beer today shoots for its ninth
straight victory in a battle featuring the clash of the top two candidates for the Best Player of the Conference even as Ginebra
takes on Barako Bull in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Beermen have not lost since an 85-76 defeat to the Alaska Aces last Oct. 17, and are still the ones favored to prevail in
the 7:30 p.m. match-up since San Miguel ho-hummed to an 88-69 win over the Realtors when these two teams squared off
in the first round last Nov. 7.
Yet things may turn out entirely different this time, and Tanquingcen is preparing for whatever defensive adjustments the
Realtors have created to offset San Miguel’s dreaded firepower.
“We have to execute well offensively because we all know how good a defensive team Sta. Lucia is,” said Tanquingcen. “At
the same time, we must also be able to defend well and not allow them to make easy shots.”
Sta. Lucia has not really gotten into a consistent groove, ending the first round eliminations with five wins and four losses.
This game, however, could kick off the spark it needs if it could come out on top in the end and snap the Beermen’s eight-
game winning streak, a tournament best.
SLR coach Boyet Fernandez is well aware of the tough game at hand, but gave an assurance that the Realtors have always
been ready.
“We are ready as always, it’s just a matter of executing our game plan and playing solid defense,” said Fernandez. “We can’t
afford silly mistakes against a team like San Miguel, meaning we have to play our A-game if we want to entertain thoughts of
winning.”
What will certainly make the match-up pretty interesting is the face-off between Arwind Santos and Kelly Williams, the top
two players fighting out for the BPC honors. Right now, the San Miguel forward is leading the race (38.9 statistical points),
with the Fil-Am closely behind with 38.1 SPs.
Santos was all over the court when San Miguel collected its eighth win in a 100-85 victory over Burger King last Sunday. The
former FEU hotshot had a game-high 27 points, 12 rebounds and blocked six shots to go with four assists and two steals.
The Gin Kings, meantime, will be shooting for their seventh win, hoping that they could bring a mentality of no mercy against
a team that has been giving heavyweight ball clubs a lot of scares.
“We are not in a position to allow them to engage us in a close contest in the end,” said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico. “They
have been losing close games.”
Although a team with only two wins to show in 10 games, the Energy Boosters have been trying hard to pull off surprises. In
their last outing against Alaska, the Boosters nearly pulled off another stunning outcome by coming back from a 20-point
deficit but lost steam in the end to absorb a 99-88 defeat.
Ginebra beat Barako Bull in the first round (94-86) in a game where it missed the services of Jay-Jay Helterbrand. Cyrus
Baguio, however, stepped up against his former team by scoring a game-high 22 points on a superb 8-of-11 shooting from
the field.
The Gin Kings are also coming off a victory over Coca-Cola, 113-104, behind Ronald Tubid’s 33 points and the 22 of Baguio.