Both teams have their own agenda which is to stay on top of the team standings. #PBAgameinDubai

Alex Cabagnot averages 16.5 points per game for the Beermen. (SMB Hoops)

DUBAI – San Miguel Beer and NLEX aim to stay on their course while giving Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) fans a real treat when they collide Friday in the first of two Governors’ Cup offerings at the Coca-Cola Arena here.

The match is set 8 p.m. (12 a.m. Manila time) with the Road Warriors gunning for a fourth win in as many games while the Beermen want to improve their own unblemished slate to 3-0.

“We are sure the fans here would see a very exciting game, one that is their money’s worth,” San Miguel head coach Leo Austria said.

“Both teams have their own agenda which is to stay on top of the team standings. At the same time, we both want to know where we are at now as far as making a run for the title is concerned. This game should be a good gauge,” he added.

No less than coach Yeng Guiao admitted the match is a veritable must-win since his team would have little downtime before taking on Barangay Ginebra at 6 p.m. Saturday (10 p.m. Manila time) in the same venue.

“It’s a toughness test. It’s a test of your physical and mental toughness,” Guiao said.

“You win one game it’s good enough. Not losing both. But winning two, that’s a real indication of the physical and mental toughness of a team, being able to win on the road.”

Aside from sustaining their finest start in a conference for the season, Guiao also bared another motivation for his team.

“We also want to be with our kababayans here. Their reception has been very warm and also their hospitality here,” said Guiao, on his fifth time to coach a team here.”

“That’s why it’s always nice to come back here. Although sometimes it’s hard to play back-to-back games, we’ll sacrifice for them to enjoy the game,” he added.

That doesn’t mean each of the protagonists have lowered their sights from their real objective and have tried to devise ways to find chinks in each other’s armor.

“Our main concern is their outside shooting because they shot 51 percent from the three-point area,” Austria assessed.

“It means all of them are licensed to take the perimeter shot so we have to extend our defense. But the problem there is they have a good big man, their import, who can work well in the shaded area. That’s why it creates opening. They have lots of shooters and they have players who can play inside.”

Indeed, Olu Ashaolu has been a tower of power for NLEX thus far with averages of 25.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists. And he has been getting plenty of help from the locals, led by Kiefer Ravena with his own stats line of 20 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.3 assists.

“We all know Kiefer always wants to take over the game and he’s been the stabilizer of his team,” Austria noted.

“But it’s not only Kiefer and their import. They also have (Philip) Paniamogan, (Bong) Galanza, (Paul) Varilla, (Kenneth) Ighalo. They are not only one-way players. These are two-way player. We really need to have a good gameplan against them, then we will see what happens.”

NLEX should also have its hands full, notwithstanding Marcio Lassiter and Christian Standhardinger being game time decisions for Austria.

June Mar Fajardo is steadily getting back to top form following an ankle injury, Alex Cabagnot and Arwind Santos have been a tear with averages of 16.5 and 14.0 points, respectively while Terrence Romeo and Von Pessumal have also each given quality minutes.

And then there’s Dez Wells, whose all-around play has translated to averages of 33.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals an outing.

“He can be a go-to guy because he can score in bunches but he’s a team player first and his teammates are comfortable with him.”