Skidding Beermen vow win vs Cobras

MANILA, Philippines - San Miguel Beer hopes to draw better production and shooting accuracy from its crew when the Beermen try to get back in the winning groove against a pumped-up Bangkok Cobras today in the third AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League at the Ynares Sports Arena.

The Beermen (2-2) saw their two-game streak snapped by the Jobstreet Singapore Slingers (4-1) on the road Wednesday, 63-71, hurt by the snipings of Slingers’ Filipino guard Don Dulay (23 points) and the cold hands of top Beermen local scorer Leo Avenido (four points on 1-for-9 FG after averaging 14 in his last two games).

“We had a slow start again and the Slingers’ import (Dulay) hurt us with 23 points. Plus we have problems with a back up guard so Froilan (Baguion) had to play extended minutes,”said SMB coach Bobby Parks. 

Baguion was the lone bright spot among the locals against Singapore with 15 points and five steals, keying SMB’s fightback from double-digit deficits. 

But their eventual downfall was hastened by a poor a 35 percent marksmanship from the field, 13 percent from the arc, and 59 percent from the free throw line. 

“Our top scorers Benedict (Fernandez) and Leo (Avenido) made only two of 16 attempts from the field. Despite that, we tied the game and it just so happened that we could not convert down the stretch,” said Parks.

The Beermen are making only their second home appearance in the league, posting a 78-70 verdict over another pre-tourney favorite, the AirAsia Phl Patriots. They played their last two games away from home, splitting the two assignments, for a 1-2 job on the road overall.

”It’s hard with all the travelling. Hopefully, this home game will help us get our bearings back,” said Parks, whose wards will have their hands full against the Cobras, who are on a high after dumping erstwhile unbeaten Westports Malaysia Dragons, 73-70.

Michael Earl (20 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 block shots), Ratdech Kruatiwa (13 points, including a clutch shot from the halfcourt) and Marvin Cruz (14 markers in his comeback game) are expected to reprise their roles for the Cobras of coach Joe Bryant, the father of NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, who was out to claim the scalp of another heavyweight home team.