WITH a league-best 9-0 win-loss record and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, San Miguel Beer can very well afford to relax and take things lightly.

But San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent urged the Beermen to continue to play harn despite their lofty standings in the PBA Philippine Cup..

“Our next goal is the 10th win,” said Gallent on the eve of San Miguel’s 4:30 p.m. encounter against the struggling Blackwater Bossing

“We are going step-by-step. Monday, Tuesday, we will prepare for Blackwater and for now, we will just think of the 10th game. We will think of Blackwater” added Gallent.

“On Wednesday, we will play Blackwater. We will prepare against Blackwater and then Saturday, against Meralco. As of now, Meralco isn’t even in our heads because we are playing Blackwater on Wednesday.”

Gallent said it would be a great achievement for the Beermen if they won all the games in the elimination round.

“If it comes, it comes, but that’s not really in our minds,” reminded Gallent. “We just do it step-by-step, prepare for every team when it comes.”

According to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon, the last time the league has seen an elims sweep was when Talk N Text won all nine games in the classification phase of the 2014 Commissioner’s Cup.

Blackwater, on the other hand, needs to win badly.

A win by the Bossing would not only stop their six-game skid but also boost their record to 4-6 to give them a chance at tying for one of the last slots in the eight-team quarterfinals.

In the second game, TNT battles Converge FiberX at 7:30 p.m.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Robert Andaya