BARANGAY Ginebra and San Miguel Beer pit skills Sunday in a match the two are treating as more than just a PBA Philippine Cup elimination game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The winner gets to occupy second-running spot, behind unbeaten leader Alaska, and sure to gain momentum going to the homestretch of the 11-game eliminations. “It’s a playoff game, that’s our approach,” simply said Kings head coach Jeffrey Cariaso. “This is for second place… big game.” His SMB counterpart, Leo Austria, has the same mind-set. “Napaka-importanteng laro bukas,” said Austria. “Kailangang-kailangan na manalo para magkaroon na rin ng momentum sa mga natitirang elimination games.” With so much at stake, the teams have drawn up battle plans that are eerily similar in their general make-up. “They have a solid lineup down the line,” said Cariaso. “Absolutely, it’s going to be a big test for our guards and wings to contain their guards.” “We have to limit their inside game while not forgetting iyung kanilang mga shooters. Our perimeter defense must also be spot-on,” countered Austria. While Arwind Santos leads the Beermen with 16.6 points per outing, center June Mar Fajardo remains the biggest concern for the Kings, averaging as he does 15.4 points and a second league-best 13.0 boards a game. “June Mar is a beast. We have to find ways to limit his touches,” noted Cariaso. It’s not that Ginebra doesn’t have its own fearsome presence in the paint. Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar have been big factors, combining for more than 27 points and 22 rebounds per contest. Defense on Ginebra’s two frontliners have also been loosened up somewhat by Joseph Yeo fully settling in with his new teammates. After averaging just 6.3 points in his first four games with the team he joined only before the season started, Yeo has scored 17 markers the past two on 12-for-22 field shooting, inclusive of 10 of 16 from three-point range. (NC)
Posted on: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 00:22:28 +0000
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