San Miguel gets needed shot in the arm with Standhardinger's timely return

The Beermen are now at solo fifth place after winning four of their last five outings while the Road Warriors are out of the playoff race with a 2-7 slate.

San Miguel coach Leo Austria, however, said they couldn't take NLEX for granted as the Road Warriors set out for the 5 p.m. match with no pressure at all.

Odds are heavily stacked on the Beermen's side versus the NLEX side depleted by the ouster of Kevin Alas, Kiefer Ravena plus Larry Fonacier.

Fonacier will now also be confined on the sidelines after sustaining a fractured ribcage in a collision with Jervy Cruz in NLEX-Barangay Ginebra road tussle in Legazpi City.

San Miguel, on the other hand, is expected to be back in full force with the expected return of Christian Standhardinger from a three-game layoff.

Even with Standhardinger still out the last time, the Beermen overcame the TNT KaTropa Texters, 99-94, in an intense game on June 16 at the MOA Arena.

The game was marred by the ejection of Arwind Santos, Marcio Lassiter, Terrence Romeo and Anthony Semerad. All the players were spared of suspension, though, and thus SMB coach Leo Austria will have a complete lineup at his disposal against NLEX.

They're on the rise with highly dependable import Renaldo Balkman, but they have no more chance to make the Top Two with a 4-4 card.

The best scenario that they're looking at is a finish in the Top Six where they get a spot in the pair of bestof-three quarterfinals series. That will require them to sweep their last three games against NLEX, Blackwater and Magnolia Pambansang Manok.

NLEX, meanwhile, is already preparing for the third conference as it faces San Miguel then Magnolia on July 4.(SB) -