Beermen look to stretch win steak to nine

Source:http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/sports/19283-beermen-look-to-stretch-win-steak-to-nine.html


THURSDAY, 03 DECEMBER 2009 19:28
SAN MIGUEL Beer guns for its ninth-straight win to move closer to one of two automatic semifinals seats in the KFC-Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup on Friday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Beermen, currently the hottest team in the conference after winning their last eight matches, collide with Sta. Lucia Realty in the main game of the triple-header, which is also featuring the tune-up match between Alaska and Smart Gilas developmental team at 2:30 p.m.

Barangay Ginebra, which would probably play without an injured Ronald Tubid, faces Barako Bull in the second game at 5 p.m.

After dropping its first two games in the tournament, San Miguel was unstoppable in its next eight to surge ahead in the team standings with an 8-2 win-loss card, just a game behind the league-leader Aces (9-1).

And the Beermen are enjoying the streak even without their key big men Danny Ildefonso, Anthony Washington and Danny Seigle.

“We need to win as many games as we can to offset the injuries of my players,” said San Miguel mentor Siot Tanquingcen, whose last victims were the Burger King Whopper of coach Yeng Guiao, 100-85, on Sunday.

“So our defense must be consistent all the time for us to have a chance,” he added.

The Realtors are coming off a heart-breaking 63-68 loss to Purefoods Tender Juicy to end their first-round campaign with a 5-4 mark.

Sta. Lucia head coach Boyet Fernandez admits that his team has to bring its “A” game in order to stand a chance against the powerful Beermen.

“We have to execute our plays well and play excellent defense if we want to beat the Beermen,” said Fernandez. “It will be tough for us, but we will be ready.”

The Realtors are pinning their hopes on Kelly Williams, second to San Miguel’s Arwind Santos in the race for the Best Player of the Conference award, and Ryan Reyes. But Fernandez needs to draw solid contributions from his second unit to have a better fighting chance.

Santos, a huge pick by the team in the off-season, has emerged as the Beermen’s top scorer and rebounder and the leader in their defensive scheme.

His arrival has relegated Dondon Hontiveros, Mike Cortez and Lordy Tugade as the team’s second options on offense.

Meanwhile, the Kings will try to solidify their hold of solo third spot against the struggling Energy Boosters (2-8) but minus Tubid, who has a stress fracture in his right shoulder.

Ginebra has been missing the services of Jayjay Helterbrand, Celino Cruz, Junthy Valenzuela and Mark Caguioa, and Tubid’s looming absence could spell trouble for the team as the former University of the East standout is the Kings’ leading scorer with 17.1 points per game.

Barako Bull, on the other hand, also seeks an important win to snap a six-game losing streak.