Streaking San Miguel and GlobalPort collide
ON-A-ROLL San Miguel Beermen and GlobalPort Batang Pier try to extend their surge in the PBA Philippine Cup when they lock horns in the main game today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The defending champions Beermen (4-0), the lone team left in the season-opening PBA tournament yet to drop a game, go for their fifth straight win in as many games in their 7 p.m. joust against the Batang Pier, who are winners of their last two after opening their campaign with back-to-back losses.
Playing in the curtain- raiser at 4:30 p.m., meanwhile, are the Meralco Bolts ( 1- 3) against the Kia Picanto (1-4).
San Miguel’s latest victory came over the NLEX Road Warriors, 109- 98, in a match last Friday that turned chippy as it wound up.
League most valuable players Arwind Santos and June Mar Fajardo led the way for the Beermen as they gallantly fought a tough challenge from the Road Warriors ( 2- 3), who were seeking to get back on the winning track after dropping their previous two matches heading into the game.
Mr. Santos, the PBA MVP in 2013, had a double-double of 26 points and 13 rebounds, while reigning four-time MVP Fajardo had 25 points and 16 boards.
Alex Cabagnot and Marcio Lassiter each had 14 points while the former also added nine assists and seven rebounds.
The match also saw San Miguel guard Chris Ross get into a near- fight with NLEX’s Alex Mallari and a stinging verbal tussle with Road Warriors coach Yeng Guiao.
The two technical fouls from the incidents had Mr. Ross, who had four points, eight rebounds and four assists, ejected in the closing moments of the game.
Also thrown out was NLEX big man Michael Miranda for kicking Mr. Ross on the groin in one physical play while Mr. Guiao was also called for a technical foul with his shouting match with the San Miguel guard.
For their heated verbal altercation, Mr. Guiao was fined by the league P11,000 for obscene gesture and use of profane language while Mr. Ross is meted a penalty of P2,600 for incurring two technical fouls.
“It was a physical game but we have gone through a lot as a team. So the physicality is nothing new to us and I firmly believe we can handle it and that it wouldn’t derail us from our goals,” said Mr. Santos after their win.
TWO STRAIGHT FOR GLOBALPORT
On the part of GlobalPort (2-2), the two straight victories it has notched of late has allowed it to right its ship after getting off on the wrong foot with two losses in a row early on.
The Batang Pier have been showing far better chemistry which has allowed them to make things happen and move to the middle of the pack.
In their last game against Blackwater Elite on Friday where they came away with a 101-76 win, the Batang Pier had much balance with Sean Anthony leading the way with 22 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Stanley Pringle finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds and five assists while Kelly Nabong had 16 points and seven boards.
“Offense is going well for us because of our ball movement. Hopefully we get to sustain this and continue to play together,” said Mr. Anthony.