Beermen, Road Warriors seek second consecutive win

Games Friday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4:15 p.m. – San Miguel vs NLEX

7 p.m. – Star vs Blackwater

MANILA, Philippines – Reigning champion San Miguel Beer and NLEX, featuring explosive veteran imports Arizona Reid and Henry Walker, face off Friday night with both eying a second straight win and an early share of the lead in the 2016 PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Meanwhile, either one between the Star Hotshots and the Blackwater Elite – both losers in their maiden games -- breaks into the win-column as they clash in the day’s other match.

A piece of the lead with the Mahindra Enforcers and the Meralco Bolts at 2-0 is at stake as the Beermen and the Road Warriors battle at 4:15 p.m. succeeded by the 7 p.m. tiff between the Hotshots and the Elite.

Reid and Walker engage in a keenly awaited showdown after exploding for 41 and 44 points, respectively, in their initial showing in this season-ending tourney.

Both are eager to give their teams a strong start in a virtual sprint event where only the Top Eight advance to the playoffs.

“AZ was a big key. He didn’t want to lose and he’s very vocal about it,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria in their 124-113 win over the Phoenix Fuel Masters where Reid was on his toes all night.

Reid reacted when he was taken out early in the fourth quarter for a brief rest and in one crucial error by teammate Ronald Tubid.

“It’s just a sign of a competitive player. He’s a winner, and he knows we have a title to defend,” said Austria.

Walker was as fired-up in his first game with the Road Warriors.

The five-year NBA veteran, averaging only 21.6 points with Alaska in a previous PBA stint, gunned down six triples and a 15-of-25 total field goals for a PBA career best output in his NLEX debut.

“The previous time I was here everybody was talking about how unselfish I was and I needed to be more aggressive, so I just wanted to come out and be aggressive for my team and see what I can do,” Walker said.

“I was more of a facilitator (at Alaska) and we had guys who were leading and were already comfortable on what they were doing,” Walker also said. “Just here, we got a bunch of young guys and me and Asi (Taulava) and Enrico (Villanueva), we just got to be aggressive and assert ourselves and lead by example.”

In the other match, odds are stacked heavily on the Hotshots’ side with their perfect 5-0 win-loss record versus the Elite.

In their most recent tiff during the Commissioner’s Cup eliminations, Star mangled Blackwater, 122-103.

Marqus Blakely and Eric Dawson figure in their own duel of veteran PBA imports. Dawson should have an Asian import partner in Imad Qahwash. It is still uncertain, however, is when will the Palestine player be available to join the Elite.

The Hotshots fell to a 92-100 upset by the Mahindra Enforcers in overtime on opening day while the Elite bowed down to the NLEX Road Warriors, 90-96, on Saturday, crumbling on Walker’s monstrous game.