Beermen face hot Elite; Texters vs Bolts

MANILA, Philippines - Reigning champion San Miguel Beer seeks to bounce back from a recent setback as it tangles with a pumped-up Blackwater side while Talk n Text goes for a second straight win versus winless Meralco in the Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup at the Philsports Arena tonight.

The Tropang Texters (1-1) and the Bolts (0-2) clash at 4:15 p.m. then the Beermen (2-1) and the Elite (1-2) collide at 7 p.m.

San Miguel is heavily favored but coach Leo Austria insists they can’t take the Blackwater team for granted, noting the Elite’s impressive start in the tourney.

“They’re coming off a breakthrough win in the all-Filipino. They always play all out, and they’re playing with no pressure at all since they have nothing to lose. They’re dangerous,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.

“It will be all about effort for us. If we play the way we should play, then we would pull this one off,” added Austria whose team is out to rebound from an 84-99 loss to Rain or Shine.

The Elite are in high spirit following a 92-90 decision over the Meralco Bolts – the team’s first in 14 games from last season in the Philippine Cup.

“I’m not saying we can beat San Miguel but hopefully our confidence and morale will be on a higher level after scoring our first win in the all-Filipino tourney,” said Blackwater coach Leo Isaac.

Meanwhile, the Texters seek a follow-up to their 101-97 win over the Mahindra Enforcers while the Bolts hope to get over the hump following back-to-back losses.

“We have to play better than we have been playing the last two games,” said TNT coach Jong Uichico, anticipating a tough battle with Meralco.

“We need to break into the win-column and get some momentum going,” said coach Norman Black whose Meralco team lost close games to San Miguel and Blackwater.

“Against TNT, we must establish a solid team defense. Jason Castro will be a main concern, but we also must do a good job of defending their shooters. Keeping their bigs off the boards will also be crucial,” Black also said.

Blackwater, behind a gutsy drive by third-year pro Carlo Lastimosa in the closing seconds, pulled through with the two-point nail-biter over Meralco.

Lastimosa, a transferee from Barako Bull, took charge at the finish, scoring five points, including the deciding basket off Rey Guevarra and Jared Dillinger with one second to go as the Elite salvaged the victory in the game where they led by 18 points early on.