10 down, one to go for SMB

MANILA, Philippines —  Another day at the office for the rampaging San Miguel Beermen.

Going to work on Labor Day in front of a key member of the celebrated “Death 5,” the Beermen moved on the threshold of a sweep of the PBA Philippine Cup eliminations via a 124-109 romp over Blackwater.

The undefeated Beermen collected their 10th consecutive win on a special day when the team feted nine-time champion Arwind Santos via a jersey retirement ceremony to the applause from his former teammates, family, friends and fans at the PhilSports Arena.

Only one team now stands in the way of a clean 11-0 for the defending champions: Meralco on Saturday in a road gig in Batangas City.

As always, coach Jorge Gallent and his high-powered crew would rather take it one step at a time than think “sweep.”

“It’s not over yet. We still have the 11th step. I have to downplay it because it hasn’t happened yet. If it happens, lucky for us and we just have to move on to the next ladder,” said Gallent, whose squad is in position to be the first “sweeper” since Talk ‘N Text had a perfect 9-0 in the classification phase of the 2014 Commissioner’s Cup.

As for the Bossing, their seventh consecutive setback after  three straight wins shut the door on their quarterfinals aspirations with a game to spare.

CJ Perez (26 points, five rebounds, five assists), Don Trollano (25 spiked by six triples) and June Mar Fajardo (21-16) carried the cudgels in the triumph that set a new all-time longest streak of 12 for SMB dating back to Games 5 and 6 of the Commissioner’s Cup finals.