DEFENDING champion San Miguel Beer eyes the solo lead when it faces Mahindra in the main game of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Beermen, tied with Alaska and Rain or Shine at No. 1 with a 6-1 win-loss record, face the Enforcers at 7 p.m. Mahindra is on the brink of failing to make the quarterfinals with its 2-5 card.
GlobalPort and NLEX face off at 4:15 p.m., with the winner advancing to the next round.
San Miguel won its last four games, including a 101-90 victory over sister team Star behind the impressive performances of reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) June Mar Fajardo and Arwind Santos.
“We’re very successful with the tandem of Arwind and June Mar,” Beermen Head Coach Leo Austria said. “If they can sustain that, we’ll go far in the tournament.”
Fajardo and Santos tallied 27 and 22 points, respectively, against the Hotshots. Austria also commended the defense of Chris Ross against the guards of Star to extend their winning streak to four games.
Mahindra is also coming off an 86-83 squeaker over Meralco to snap a three-game losing streak. “Our goal is to make the playoffs, but we have to take this one game at a time,” said Enforcers Assistant Coach Chito Victolero, who had to rely on LA Revilla’s defensive stop on Jimmy Alapag to preserve their three-point win against the Bolts.
“We are at the bottom of the standings, so that win [against Meralco] was big for us,” he added. The Batang Pier and Road Warriors, both holding 4-3 records, clash for an important victory that will secure the winner a berth in the quarterfinal stage.
GlobalPort beat Blackwater, 120-105, in its previous game, while NLEX dropped an 81-89 decision to the Aces.
“The players are working hard to go to the playoffs,” Batang Pier Head Coach Pido Jarencio said. “Our next opponents are strong, but we need to prepare each game.”
Standings: San Miguel 6-1, Alaska 6-1, Rain or Shine 6-1, Talk ‘N Text 4-2, GlobalPort 4-3, NLEX 4-3, Ginebra 4-4, Mahindra 2-5, Star 2-6, Blackwater 1-6, Meralco 1-