Sporting Chance

Tanduay's fully loaded and raring to make mincemeat of any team that gets in its way of capturing the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) All-Filipino title.

So far, so good. Coach Alfrancis Chua hasn't pulled punches in unleashing the fearsome Gold machine to race to a 6-0 record. The stats show why the Rum Masters are lording it over the heap -- they're No. 1 in offense, averaging 93 points, No. 1 in defense, giving up only 74.2 points a game, No. 1 in rebounding, and No. 1 in transition points.

Only Shell Velocity has come close to beating Tanduay and the Oilers didn't really threaten, losing by seven.

Tanduay's average winning margin is 18.8 points. Chua's charges are merciless - a killer's instinct is the mark of a focused squad. The Gold Rum Masters devour their prey like hungry tigers. When they get off to a hot start, there's no stopping the juggernaut.

Three clubs are still out there waiting to ambush Tanduay. San Miguel Beer takes on the Rum Masters this Sunday. Barangay Ginebra has its turn the Sunday after. And Purefoods completes the cycle on May 3.

Under the All-Filipino's inter-intra format, Tanduay plays archrival San Miguel twice in the elims. Shell, Ginebra, Sta. Lucia Realty and Pop Cola are the other teams that will face Tanduay twice before the quarters. Alaska, Mobiline, Purefoods, and Red Bull play Tanduay only once because they fall in the same bracket.

San Miguel will be Tanduay's first big test. If there's a team that has the talent and the smarts to upend Tanduay, it's San Miguel. That's why the Rum Masters can't wait for Sunday's match -- they're itching to show up the Beermen.

Last year, Tanduay lost to San Miguel in five of seven games. The Beermen were clearly Tanduay's nemesis. In the Second Conference quarters, San Miguel booted Tanduay out of contention and out of the semis. In the Third Conference best-of-5 semis, San Miguel blanked Tanduay, 3-0, and never gave the Rum Masters a chance to breathe.

For all the troubles that San Miguel caused last season, Tanduay is looking to pay back this Sunday.

Ironically, Tanduay's strength could also be its weakness. The Rum Masters are top heavy. Eric Menk and Sonny Alvarado are the team's dominant workhorses. They combine for 54 percent of Tanduay's points and 70 percent of its converted free throws. If they're healthy and not in foul trouble, Tanduay is difficult to stop. But are they indefensible?

It's no secret that to beat Tanduay, you've got to muzzle the Rum Masters' transition game. That means getting back quickly on defense and neutralizing the outlet pass off the defensive boards. Slowing down the tempo to break Tanduay's rhythm might be a tactic.

Pressuring Tanduay's ballcarriers could also be another tactic - that would make it harder for the ball to get to the post where Menk and Alvarado are deadliest. The idea would be to take Menk and Alvarado out of the offensive flow and get the others - Jeffrey Cariaso, Dondon Hontiveros, and Rudy Hatfield - to try to beat San Miguel on their own.

San Miguel's problem is Menk and Alvarado are both long-range bombers, too. So if they can't get the ball on the low blocks, expect them to pop out and either gun from the perimeter or drive strong to the hoop.

To beat San Miguel, Tanduay's supporting cast must deliver. Chua shouldn't lean on just Menk and Alvarado. There's so much talent in his bench. If you're wondering why Chua hasn't used his relievers more, forget it. Never second-guess Chua and don't ever sell him short. He's got a lot of aces up his sleeves. He's sure to pull some surprises on Sunday. Who knows? Maybe Pido Jarencio, averaging only six minutes a game, might relive his Fireman's role and burn the Beermen to cinders.

What Tanduay must guard against is complacency. Remember that Mobiline had a fiery 7-0 start in the All-Filipino last year and didn't even make it to the semis. Remember, too, that Tanduay broke out to a 5-0 start in the Second Conference and like the Phone Pals, also failed to reach the semis.

San Miguel was blown out by Purefoods in its first game this year. That 23-point rout triggered a reawakening in the San Miguel camp and the Beermen stormed back to win four in a row. But San Miguel's wins weren't as convincing as Tanduay's. The Beermen, for instance, beat Alaska by only a point and Tanduay murdered the Milkmen by 17.

More than anything, pride will be at stake in Sunday's clash. San Miguel won two titles last year while Tanduay wound up second in the All-Filipino and third in the Governors Cup. Chua would like nothing better than to stick it to San Miguel. Expect a humdinger.