Hot Beermen eye repeat win vs E-Painters

MANILA, Philippines - San Miguel Beer, getting the breaks despite being idle Wednesday, hopes to further boost its campaign as it tangles with a struggling Rain or Shine side in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum today.

The Beermen firmed up their hold of the second spot Wednesday as the Barangay Ginebra Kings and the Talk n Text Tropang Texters lost their matches to the Sta. Lucia Realtors and the Alaska Milk Aces, respectively.

Coach Siot Tanquingcen and his chargers hope to widen the gap further as the Beermen go for a repeat win over the Elasto Painters in their 7:30 p.m. tiff.

SMB, with a 10-3 win-loss card, is two full games ahead of joint third placers Ginebra, Talk n Text and Purefoods, nearing the final stretch of the double-round-robin elimination phase where the top two placers gain outright entry into the semifinals.

Burger King and Barako Bull clash in the 5 p.m. opener, both looking for a win for the needed momentum in the closing stage of the elims.

BK, Barako, Rain or Shine and Coca-Cola are out of the fight for an outright semis entry. They are now slugging it out to avoid 10th place finish or automatic elimination after the two-round prelims.

With a 4-9 slate, BK remains in the hunt for an outright quarterfinal berth. The Whoppers, however, have a lot of catching up to do and they can’t afford to lose to the Energy Boosters.

The Whoppers are confident they can duplicate their 102-86 bashing of the Energy Boosters in their previous encounter.

The Beermen also have high hopes against the Elasto Painters.

Tanquingcen and his troops are determined to play hard in tribute to the departed father of SMB governor Ely Capacio. 

Col. Conrado Capacio died Monday at the family residence in Palo, Leyte. He was 83.