Beermen eye to extend streak in year's first game

MANILA, Philippines — Defending Philippine Cup champions San Miguel Beermen hope to snare their first win of 2017 and keep their hot streak alive.

Facing a breakthrough Blackwater side later today at the Mall of Asia Arena, Beermen head coach Leo Austria noted that they could take a page off their playbook in their last game against Meralco.

“If we could be consistent doing this kind of game, magiging maganda ang result para samin,” said the two-time Coach of the Year.“I hope mag-continue ‘yung aspirations nila for the team,” he said of his wards.

At 5-1, San Miguel is atop the conference’s standings. They last lost — in stunning fashion — on November 30 last year to the Phoenix Fuel Masters. Since then, the Beermen have won four straight.

And while they’re playing a young squad in the 4-3 Elite Friday, they’re also bracing for a stretch featuring teams touting deep offensive arsenals — Ginebra, Rain or Shine, GlobalPort and Talk ’N Text.

Meanwhile, the struggling finalist of the previous conference will look to arrest their skid against another squad scrambling for balance.

The 2-4 Meralco Bolts will try to turn their fortunes around against the 3-3 GlobalPort Batang Pier in the first game.

“There is a bit of urgency, yes,” said Bolts head coach Norman Black. “We don't wanna get eliminated. We have to start getting performances from everybody.

”The Grand Slam tactician said Meralco’s future could be bleak if they’re unable to put an end to their dry spell, which has spanned for three games.

“Otherwise, we'll get stuck at the bottom four,” Black offered. “We have to do a better job finishing our games well.”

The Bolts and Batang Pier lock horns at 4:15 p.m., followed by the Beermen and Elite at 7 p.m.