Chris Newsome of the Meralco Bolts looks to make a play during fourth-quarter action against his Phoenix Super LPG defender in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Photo by Ernie Sarmiento
San Miguel seeks Top 4 seat
Photo by Ernie Sarmiento
WITH June Mar Fajardo back in action, expect San Miguel Beer to go all-out for a fifth straight win — and the coveted third spot and a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals — when it takes on Blackwater Bossing in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
A win by the Beermen in the 4 p.m. encounter against the Bossing will give them an 8-3 record at the end of the eliminations.
That’s enough for the No. 3 spot and the twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals, a privilege reserved for the top four teams.
Actually, the Phoenix Super LPG (8-2) , defending campion Barangay Ginebra, (7-3) and Meralco (7-3) have the chance to finish in a tie with SMB for the spot.
However, San Miguel would still secure the position or even move up a rank, owing to a higher quotient achieved by defeating all those teams.
The timely return of the seven-time MVP Fajardo after recovering from a left-hand injury he sustained last Nov 29 and missing six games should augur well frot the Beermen.
“If Rodney (Brondial) rests his foot and June Mar comes in, that’s very good for our team. At least now June Mar is coming back,”said San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent in an interview posted on the pba.ph website.
Bennie Boatwright, who replaced Ivan Aska as San Miguel import, is again expected to lead the Beermen.
Boatwright had impressed with a career-high 51 points in only his second game for the Beermen, setting the tone for the rout over the Terrafirma Dyip.
“I’m excited to be here. I’m hearing all about the tradition. This team has a lot of accolades over the past years and I’m glad to be a part of it and make a run in the playoffs,”said Boatwright.
In the 8 p.m. mainer, Meralco Bolts find theselves in a tight spot in the battle for the Top 4 as they take Terrafirma Dyip and win to stay in the hunt..
And a win might not suffice, however.
A significant possibility looms large- -a logjam from No. 3 to No. 5, and even No. 2 to No. 5.
In any of these scenarios, the Bolts would ultimately land at No. 5 due to an inferior quotient.
The path to the Top 4 for the Bolts would only become clear if they manage to defeat the Dyip and either the Beermen or the Gin Kings stumble in their final elimination round assignments.
