CURRENTLY the hottest team in the league, San Miguel Beer has no plans of slowing down.
The defending champion aims to reclaim sole possession of first place when it shoots for a fifth straight win in the resumption of the 2015 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup.
Winners of four straight heading in, the Beermen (6-1) have all the momentum going when they lock horns with energized Mahindra (2-5) at 7 p.m. today in the main attraction at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Before this is a battle between two rising teams GlobalPort and NLEX, currently tied at fifth with similar 4-3 marks, as they test each other at 4:15 p.m.
San Miguel Beer is involved in a three-way logjam at the top with fellow contenders Alaska and Rain or Shine.
Another possible victory for San Miguel Beer will not only put it back to solo first, it will also formalize its entry into the next round. The Beermen can be the first team to qualify in the quarterfinals should they get past the dangerous Enforcers.
San Miguel coach Leo Austria commended the effort and leadership of his two best players, Arwind Santos and two-time reigning Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo, saying they are the big reasons why the Beermen are looking really good in the middle of their title defense.
‘’The main reasons for our surge are Arwind (Santos) and June Mar (Fajardo). They really want to win and nakakahawa sa buong team,’’ said Austria of his stars’ impact. ‘’We’re hoping to sustain it para makapasok na sa quarterfinals.’’
Fajardo and Santos combined for 49 points in San Miguel’s statement 101-90 rout of sister team Star last Saturday.
On the other hand, Mahindra is a team also coming off a morale-boosting win.
The Enforcers carved out a hard-fought 86-83 triumph over Meralco also last Saturday to move to 10th place and hold the last ticket to the quarters as of the moment.
While the league’s perennial powerhouses are enjoying their places at the top, the Road Warriors and the Batang Pier are continuing to prove that they are both capable of being considered dark horses.
This encounter will be a vital one as the victor will claim solo fifth place—a good position to enter the next round.
GlobalPort and NLEX are coming off contrasting results in their last assignments.
The Batang Pier snapped their two-game skid by dominating Blackwater, 120-105, last Sunday behind superstar Terrence Romeo’s 26 points, while the Road Warriors bowed to Alaska, 89-81, last Friday.
‘’Malakas pa rin kalaban namin. NLEX naman ngayon, so ituloy lang namin ‘yung effort para makuha namin ang panalo,’’ said GlobalPort coach Pido Jarencio.
Games Wednesday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum):
4:15 p.m. – GlobalPort vs. NLEX
7 p.m. – Mahindra vs. San Miguel