will be counted upon anew by the Beermen
today. PBA PHOTO
DEFENDING champion San Miguel Beer is halfway done in its mission but Beermen coach Jorge Gallent is adamant the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters are far from done.
“As of now, two wins are nothing. We have to get four. There’s nothing to celebrate unless we get four wins, but this is our third step,” Gallent said. “First was the eliminations, second was the quarterfinals and this is the third step.
“It’s not over yet unless we have four wins,” he added.
SMB tries to push Rain or Shine on the brink when they tangle today in Game 3 of their best-of-7 semifinals duel in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Dasmariñas Arena in Cavite.
The match is set at 4:30 p.m., with the Beermen raring to frustrate the Painters for the third straight time and gain a commanding 3-0 lead.
Ginebra and Meralco clash in the nightcap, also in the third tiff of their race-to-4 series, aiming to break a 1-1 tie.
“At least now we did a better job sprinting back on defense and getting good shots, better shots than in Game 1,” Gallent said after his charges smothered Rain or Shine 106-89 in Game 2 last Sunday night.
“So, I guess we just have to do the same in Game 3 and keep the energy up and keep on pressing the gas.”
SMB will bank anew on the likes of reigning seven-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Marcio Lassiter, Don Trollano, Chris Ross, and Jericho Cruz. Down but not out, Anton Asistio. Adr i an Nocum,
Andrei Caracut, Jhonard Clarito, Leonard Santillan, and Beau Belga will be counted upon by the Painters to deliver anew.
Bolts tactician Luigi Trillo, whose team essayed a gutsy 103-91 triumph in the second game also three days ago, admitted repeating over the Kings is no easy task.
“We have so much respect for them and I’m sure they have the same respect for us. It’s gutting it out, it’s hard (fought),” Trillo said. “I’m sure the fans enjoy that, we enjoy it, we love that type of atmosphere.
“It’s so hard to win back-to-back in a series and it’s most especially so against Ginebra.” Meralco has what
it takes even against a formidable Ginebra side, according to Trillo. “We know we’re capable, we know we can, but we really have to be detailed in things we do.
We know there will be struggles,” he said. “There are certain things we’re giving up and certain things we’re taking away.
“It’s a best-of-seven and we believe the more we do those things better, we have a better chance.”
Chris Newsome, Chris Banchero, Allein Maliksi, Bong Quinto, and Raymond Almazan are expected to show the way for the Bolts.
