Oct 12, 2019

SMB braces for rough sailing in bid to extend win streak as Ginebra determined to arrest two-game skid

Forty-eight hours after overcoming Magnolia Pambansang Manok, San Miguel Beer faces another tough rival in Barangay Ginebra with hopes of topping their SMC intramural to boost its PBA Season 44 grand slam drive.

If the Magnolia game was tough for San Miguel, things aren't expected to get easier versus a Ginebra side aching for redemption from its heartrending Dubai foldup.

The Beermen and the Kings slug it out at 6:45 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Ginebra has actually suffered back-to-back losses, and needs to start winning if the Kings are to contend for the Top Two and its reward of a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

Coach Tim Cone said the first order is to pick up the pieces and summon all the effort they can get to stand a chance against the SMC side that has been on a roll despite its health woes.

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Minus Terrence Romeo and with Marcio Lassiter playing short minutes being barely back, the Beermen edged the Hotshots, 90-89, for a fourth win in as many games in the season-ending Governors' Cup.

The Beermen are determined to get going to claim top seeding for a good shot at going deep in the playoffs and a possible crack at completing a Triple Crown.

But SMC coach Leo Austria insists they're taking it one game at a time.

And they're definitely can't look beyond the Kings who wouldn't want to fall deeper down the team standings. Ginebra is at 1-2, with its lone win coming at the expense of Alaska Milk, 102-83.

The Kings looked headed to a second win in Dubai only to blow away a 28-point lead in a shocking 111-113 loss to the NLEX Road Warriors in Dubai on Oct. 5.

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Earlier in Manila, they dropped their game against the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters.

But the Kings are not about to push the panic button yet - not with champion import Justin Browlee around.

For Brownlee and the Kings have been in deeper trouble and they've survived - the latest in their Commissioner's Cup title run last year. (SB)