June Mar Fajardo and Greg Slaughter clash in a duel of giants for the first time in a long while, highlighting the much-anticipated matchup between grand slam-chasing San Miguel Beer and PBA Governors Cup defending champion Barangay Ginebra at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday evening.
It's a crucial ball game with the Kings looking to seal a Top Four finish while the Beermen fight to improve their record in the Top Eight.
Unsteady with Wendell McKines and Terik Bridgeman, the Beermen are unveiling another import sub in Terrence Watson for their 6:45 p.m. tiff with the Kings and their tested import Justin Brownlee.
"Siguradong mas makakatulong na sa amin ito," said San Miguel coach Leo Austria of Watson, fresh from a championship run with his team in the Israel league.
"May tira siya sa perimeter at meron din three-point shots. Mataas ang basketball IQ at ka-jamming agad niya yung mga teammates niya," added Austria, convinced Watson will bring in positive vibes at San Miguel.
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The Beermen need all the help they can get from their new import as they're in a precarious spot at joint sixth with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at 4-3, well within reach by the Blackwater Elite at 4-5 and the GlobalPort Batang Pier at 3-5.
And they have a good reason to be wary of the Gin Kings - a team that hasn't lost a game in their last seven outings.
Meanwhile, Ginebra coach Tim Cone still points to San Miguel as the team to beat despite the Beermen's inconsistency at the moment.
Cone was glad they survived the Blackwater Elite Friday.
"It's important for us to get this game for our quick turnaround playing San Miguel Sunday. You don't want to play San Miguel coming off a loss," said Cone.
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"I read somewhere coach Leo saying we're the team to beat. But they're really the team to beat, and there's no doubt about that," Cone also said.
At 7-1, Ginebra can secure a Top Four finish and a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals with one more win in their last three games versus San Miguel, Rain or Shine and TNT KaTropa.
