Beermen, Painters reprise thrilling first encounter
The last time San Miguel Beer and Rain or Shine clashed in the PBA Governors’ Cup, the Beermen needed a last-second jumper to emerge victorious.
Fans are expecting another thrilling climax at the very least when the two teams clash anew on Thursday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Jorge Gallent doesn’t want the same.
“I hope not,” the San Miguel coach said, preferring a more comfortable ending in favor of the Beermen, who are looking to cement their position atop Group B of the season-opening conference.
Yeng Guiao seems to agree.
“They might beat us by 80,” Guiao said in jest.
The punchline stems from the manner of how San Miguel handed Ginebra the worst loss in franchise history, a 131-82 beating that made it easy for Guiao to embrace the underdog role going into their showdown.
Both the Beermen and the Elasto Painters lead their group at 6-2 (win-loss) heading into their 7:30 p.m. showdown and a win will enhance either team’s bid to put a lock on the top spot.
Both teams face off in a rematch of the showdown exactly two weeks ago where the Beermen scraped past the Elasto Painters, 113-112, at the same venue.
In that game, Rain or Shine had taken the lead after rookie Felix Lemetti was fouled in the act of shooting by San Miguel’s Chris Ross with three seconds left from half court, knocking all four free throws in the process.
With no timeout left, the Beermen rushed to come away with the win after June Mar Fajardo hit a jumper at the buzzer.
The win snapped a two-game skid and triggered a streak of four consecutive victories, including Sunday’s 49-point rout of Barangay Ginebra at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“That win really lifted us,” Gallent said. “That game-winning shot gave us the motivation and the energy to win the next three games.”
Rain or Shine perhaps needs the win more than San Miguel, since it would give the Painters the upper hand as far as positioning in the quarters is concerned.
Not far behind San Miguel and Rain or Shine is Ginebra, which looks to improve its 5-3 record at press time against Phoenix.
Meralco and Converge were facing off in Wednesday’s initial offering, with the FiberXers parading new import Jalen Jones with Scotty Hopson out due to an injury.
