Beermen battle Painters
MAYBE San Miguel Beer can teach Rain or Shine a lesson or two about springing back to life.
While the Beermen (2-2) have finally lived up to their pre-season billing, the Elasto Painters, considered as one of the dark horse teams, continue to struggle in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup. And the hole (0-4) Rain or Shine is currently in could get deeper when it battles rampaging San Miguel today at the Araneta Coliseum.
Unbeaten Alaska (4-0) guns for its fifth straight win and a firm hold of the lead when it faces Sta. Lucia Realty (3-1) in the other game, but an eye should be kept out for the opener.
After dropping its first two games, SMB scored back-to-back wins over Burger King and defending champion Talk N Text, the latter via a 100-90 count last Wednesday.
In those games, the Beermen showed a hot scoring touch complemented by a stifling defense, limiting their opponents to 94.5 points and winning by an average of 14 points.
Rain or Shine could only look on in envy. The Elasto Painters lost their first four games giving up only an average of 90 points per game but the team raring to follow up on its season of milestones last year has not displayed its trademark spunk so far.
"Sa personal opinion ko, medyo kulang pa ng chemistry because we have six new guys and kulang pa ang mga laro together," aired Raymund Yu, who co-owns ROS with Terry Que.
"Kaya siguro kapag naghahabol kami we tend to play well but cannot finish out close games," he added.
The team’s lack of cohesion is the reason the team is the worst or second-worst in the tournament in such critical areas as field shooting (38.8 percent), three-point shooting (20.2 percent), free throw shooting (58.8 percent and assists (16.8 per game).
To make matters worse, ROS coach Caloy Garcia figured in a vehicular accident after a team mass last Monday. Although he escaped with only minor injuries he failed to attend yesterday’s practice to rest.
Familiarity is something Alaska will not be wanting against Sta. Lucia Realty.
"We’ve met this team in the semis of the last two All-Filipino (conferences), so we know each other well," noted Aces coach Tim Cone.
There may have been some minor changes in the SLR camp, he added, but the basic principle of Realtors basketball remains the same.
"Sta. Lucia always brings great discipline and defensive intensity to their games, a credit to coach Boyet (Fernandez)," Cone said of the team that held off the BK Whoppers 101-93 last Friday.
"With their trades they have more quickness this year which we’ll have to overcome."