SMB hopes to stay clean vs NLEX

MANILA, Philippines — Unbeaten frontrunner San Miguel Beer shoots for win No. 4 versus NLEX and its prized rookie Kiefer Ravena while GlobalPort seeks a follow-up win against Blackwater in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome tonight.

The only team with a perfect slate, the Beermen hope to keep their hot start in the new season although they remain wary of the Road Warriors’ bid to bounce back from a sorry loss to the Magnolia Hotshots Sunday.

The Beermen and the Road Warriors clash at 7 p.m. after an expected thriller between the Batang Pier and the Elite at 4:30 p.m.

Blackwater won over Rain or Shine (92-87) and Barangay Ginebra (94-77), but GlobalPort – after a 0-2 start – has also got on the winning track with a 78-70 toppling of ROS.

NLEX and Blackwater are in a heavy six-way logjam at fourth with Alaska Milk, Phoenix Petroleum, Rain or Shine and TNT KaTropa at 2-2 while GlobalPort is half-game behind at 1-2.

As solo leader with three wins, the Beermen are determined to pile up as many wins in chase of a prime spot in the playoffs.

“We hope to sustain the head start we’ve got,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria looking for another win to add to earlier victories over the Fuel Masters (104-96), the Meralco Bolts (103-97) and the Texters (88-76).

Their triumph over TNT in a road game in Iloilo was special as they got tremendous boost from players outside of their Magnificent Five of June Mar Fajardo, Arwind Santos, Marcio Lassiter, Alex Cabagnot and Chris Ross.

The Texters took control majority of the way, and the Beermen needed to lean on reserves Brian Heruela and Matt Ganuelas-Rosser to turn things around in the fourth quarter.

Rosser, up against his former team, turned in eight points, five rebounds and three assists while Heruela came through with five markers, three boards and two dish-offs in lighting up SMB’s fightback.

Meanwhile, NLEX coach Yeng Guiao rued their team too much dependence on their prized rookie in their 94-105 loss to Magnolia Sunday.

Ravena came up with 31 points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals in a virtuoso performance that went down the drain.