Beermen, Hotshots collide for solo lead

Games today:

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

5 p.m. — NorthPort vs Rain or Shine

7:30 p.m. — San Miguel Beer vs Magnolia

A hold of the solo lead is at stake when unbeaten teams San Miguel Beer and Magnolia clash in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The explosive main game before the Holy Week break erupts at 7:30 p.m. after the 5 p.m. encounter between opening-day winner NorthPort and rebound-seeking Rain or Shine.

Determined to regain lost pride after a forgettable campaign last conference, the Beermen led by eight-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo rolled past their first two assignments including a satisfying payback over defending champion Meralco.

San Miguel is fresh off a weeklong break following a 110-98 victory over last year’s finals tormentors in a retro-flavored game on the day of the league’s 50th anniversary.

Although the Beermen have been playing smoothly despite missing Jericho Cruz, who contracted pink eyes, head coach Leo Austria remains wary of the tough challenge the Hotshots will surely bring.

“I’m really worried about Magnolia because they’re playing a lot better,” he said.

‘We’re focusing game by game and trying to get as many wins as we can.’

“You can see that they’re using six big men. We only have four. They’re in top shape. During our tune-up game we’re able to compete with them, although we lost. But we’re so happy, that we’re able to level up to their intensity. So, I’m expecting it will be an exciting game,” Austria added.

Magnolia is indeed doing great with renewed confidence and vigor which translated to back-to-back wins to start its campaign.

What makes the Hotshots dangerous is their unpredictability with head coach Chito Victolero spreading his players’ minutes.

Using size and fresh legs advantage from an extended rotation, the Hotshots ran down Blackwater and Converge.

“It’s a good sign, hopefully we could do that again. We just try to take it one game at a time,” Victolero said of his team walking on the right path following an 83-71 win over the FiberXers last week.”

“We play San Miguel next. It’s a big game for us.”

Fajardo and company will have their hands full defending the frontline with Magnolia’s bigs in Ian Sangalang and Russel Escoto as well as tall wings Zav Lucero and Calvin Abueva, relentlessly attacking the paint.

On the other hand, the Batang Pier eye a follow-up to their 97-75 crushing of Terrafirma last Sunday.

Commissioner’s Cup Best Player of the Conference Arvin Tolentino has sustained his inspired showing last tournament with a near triple-double in NorthPort’s debut.

“Right now, we’re focusing on getting into the playoffs first. We can’t get ahead of ourselves thinking about surpassing what we’ve reached last conference,” said Tolentino, who had 19 points, 12 assists and eight boards last game.

“We’re focusing game by game and trying to get as many wins as we can.”

The Elasto Painters, meanwhile, seeks to barge into the win column after starting on the wrong foot.

Rain or Shine got hurled around by NLEX, 95-109, last Saturday despite the 24-point explosion of Caelan Tiongson.

Tiongson will need more help from other Elasto Painters especially scorer Adrian Nocum, who shot poorly from the field (5-of-13) last time, to prevent another meltdown after squandering an 11-point lead.