SAN Miguel Beer and Phoenix are both raring to stretch their winning runs to three against struggling foes.
Which team will succeed in its goal will be known when the Beermen and the Fuel Masters square off with separate opponents today in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Phoenix battles a full-strength Terrafirma five in the curtain-raiser at 4 p.m., bent on scoring a fitting follow up to a 111-106 victory over Blackwater five days back that hiked the Fuel Masters’ mark to 3-1, tied with Meralco and defending champion Ginebra.
SMB takes on winless Rain or Shine in the nightcap at 8 o’clock.
Phoenix coach Jamike Jarin pointed to his charges’ resolve as one cohesive unit as one of the keys in their campaign.
“The culture that we’re building here is that we like it to be a family-oriented group. That’s why in the past game, RJ Jazul was struggling, but in our last game, he shot the ball very well,” Jarin said.
“That’s shows how we care for each other, that’s how we’re gonna be in the remaining games of these conference,” he added.
The likes of import Johnathan Williams, Jason Perkins, Javee Mocon, Jazul, and rookie Ricci Rivero are expected to deliver for the Fuel Masters.
His team beaten to a pulp 93-103 by the TNT Tropang Giga Wednesday last week, tactician Johnedel Cardel is convinced the healthy Dyip could pull the rug from under Phoenix.
Reinforcement Thomas De Thaey, main man Juami Tiongson and Kemark Cariño are all set to suit up after sitting out the TNT game due to either illness or injury.
“Full line-up na kami versus Phoenix,” Cardel said. “Nag-e-ensayo na and healthy na raw siya (De Thaey) and based sa nakikita namin mukhang okay naman.
“Pero he would still be under observation. We still want to see how he performs in an actual game.”
Vastly improved Javi Gomez de Liaño and this year’s top pick overall Stephen Holt will also be counted upon by Terrafirma in its bid to improve its 2-2 slate and break a tie with idle TNT and NLEX.
The Beermen turned back the Converge FiberXers 105-96 in the pro league’s first out-of-town tiff in Tiaong, Quezon, in three years last Saturday that raised their card to 2-1 for solo fifth.
SMB will pin its hopes on import Ivan Aska, reigning seven-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Chris Ross, and Simon Enciso.
The Elasto Painters have yet to crash the winner’s circle after four games, counting a 102-107 setback at the hands of the Kings five nights ago.
Rain or Shine has given the pink slip to reinforcement DaJuan Summers and will field Demetrius Treadwell.
A product of University of Akron, the 6-foot-7 Treadwell spent most of his pro career as a rebounding ace in the Israel league.
The Painters will bank on local support from Andrei Caracut, Leonard Santillan, Rey Nambatac, Jhonard Clarito, and Anton Asistio.
