LEAGUE-leading San Miguel Beer has no plans of slowing down as it goes for a fourth straight win in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup.
The defending champions (3-0) aim on staying on top when they battle the slumping NLEX Road Warriors (2-2) at 7 p.m. tonight at the Cuneta Astrodome in the second game of a double-header that also features a bout between the Blackwater Elite (2-2) and the GlobalPort Batang Pier (1-2) at 4:30 p.m. in the curtain-raiser.
Firing from all cylinders to start their season, the Beermen are rolling as they are the only unbeaten team left in the tournament.
San Miguel has been winning by an average of 8.2 points per game in its current three-game onslaught as its steadiness and poise continue to overwhelm opponents up to this point.
Beermen coach Leo Austria is happy with his team’s start but is well aware that the bull’s-eye is always on their back.
“It’s a good start for us as we try to defend our championship but we are also aware that all the other teams want to beat us. Everybody exerts extra effort and are more motivated whenever we face them. That’s something that we prepare for every time,” said Austria.
San Miguel Beer took down the Bolts, 88-76, last week.
The Beermen will face a Road Warriors side that’s aching to get back on the winning track.
After starting the All-Filipino at 2-0, NLEX is currently on a two-game skid. They suffered back-to-back losses, the last one against the Magnolia Hotshots last Sunday, 105-94.
Road Warriors coach Yeng Guiao will seek for more help and support for star rookie Kiefer Ravena, who has been carrying much of the scoring load for the team since his arrival.
“Kiefer (Ravena) has been outstanding for us but he needs more help. We can’t win a lot of games when it’s just him producing. We need production from everyone,” said Guiao after Ravena dropped a career-high 31 points against the Hotshot in that losing cause.
While the Elite dropped its last game against TNT, 92-83, just last Wednesday, the Batang Pier will be heading to their clash with renewed confidence after posting its first win the last time out against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 78-70.