JUST one more win, and the San Miguel Beermen (7-0) can put a lock on a Top 2 seeding and a twice-to-beat incentive in the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals.
Immediately in front of them is their closest pursuer in Magnolia Chicken Tiplados.
They square off at 7:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in a rematch of their Commissioner's Cup title dispute, with both determined to push their searing drives.
The Beermen ache to keep their edge that they pour on everything even in practice.
"Nagbubugbugan kami sa ensayo," said CJ Perez of the tremendous energy and effort the Beermen give out in practice to stay in the best form they can possibly be.
Sponsored content:
In the game, the Beermen are trying to maximize use of the great individual talents that they have, not by playing individually but as a whole unit.
"I always say this - if we share the ball, we're a great team. If we don't, we're a normal team," said coach Jorge Gallent.
They've been on a great run that they've made a good separation from the rest of the field, but could face their biggest challenge in the Hotshots, the second-running team riding the momentum of a four-game streak.
It's not lost on Gallent.
"We'll treat them as a threat to us," said the SMB coach.
Sponsored content:
Coach Chito Victolero and his troops are as determined to push their bid.
At 5-2, the Hotshots are locked in a spirited fight with the Barangay Ginebra Kings (6-3) and the NLEX Road Warriors for second spot.
Of course, the immediate goal for the Hotshots is to clinch a quarterfinals passage.
If they can pull one over the Beermen, then the Hotshots will be almost there. They will also keep momentum going to their last three games versus the Meralco Bolts, the Terrafirma Dyip and the TNT Tropang Giga.
San Miguel, meanwhile, has NLEX, Blackwater and Meralco as closing assignments.(SB)
