MANILA, Philippines - San Mig Coffee and Meralco take a shot at joint second as they play struggling rivals in a Halloween twinbill tonight ushering in a weeklong PBA All Saints Day presentation that culminates with a blockbuster triple-bill at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.
The Mixers clash with the Globalport Batang Pier at 5:15 p.m. then the Bolts collide with the Barako Bull Energy at 7:30 p.m.
San Mig Coffee and Meralco go for a share of second with Rain or Shine and Alaska at 4-2 while Globalport (1-5) and Barako Bull (2-4) try to bounce back into the thick of things.
On All Souls Day, Talk n Text and Petron Blaze battle Alaska Milk and Air21, respectively, while Sunday will be a big day with a rare triple-bill pitting Barako Bull versus Globalport, Rain or Shine against Meralco and Barangay Ginebra versus San Mig Coffee.
Tonight’s games are as equally important, though, with San Mig Coffee and Meralco out to improve their position in the upper half of the chart and Barako and Globalport out to check alarming skids.
“We weren’t pretty last game and it wasn’t our best effort, but we found a way to win. We‘re hoping to play a much more complete game this time around and regain some of our early season momentum,” said San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone.
“We are going to hit the floor after a 10-day rest. The challenge is how to keep our sharpness on defense,” said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio.
The Bolts expect a battle against the Barako side coming off an emotional loss to San Mig Coffee Sunday.
“For sure they will come out strong and we must find ways to match or even come out stronger,” said Gregorio.
“Barako is such a dangerous team. Their win-loss mark is not an indication of their real roster strength,” Gregorio also said.
Barako Bull looks to perform well not just in its next game but its next three assignments, having accepted its sorry loss to San Mig Coffee.
Coach Junel Baculi believes their performance in their next three games would foretell their future in the tourney.
The Energy Cola are up against the Meralco Bolts tonight, versus the Globalport Batang Pier Sunday and against the Air21 Express on Nov. 9.
Baculi and his chargers have high hopes against these teams that are relatively light compared to Talk n Text, San Mig Coffee and Petron Blaze.
“This stretch could well provide hint where we are we going to end up in the tournament,” said Baculi.