3:14 pm | Tuesday, May 7th, 2013
A LONG break is precisely what the doctor ordered for San Mig Coffee and Alaska.
How they translate the respite into their most desired fruits will be known Wednesday when they resume their PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals duel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Especially for the Mixers, who have played almost every other day from the eliminations, quarterfinals and the first two games of the best-of-five series, currently tied at one game apiece.
No wonder San Mig coach Tim Cone can’t help but be thankful and at the same time feel rejuvenated for his team for the lull between their last game April 29 due to the All-Star Weekend held May 1 to 6 in Digos City.
“After such a long break, it truly does feel like a best-of-three. It’s almost like a completely different series,” said Cone. “But like any best-of-three, that first game is always crucial.”
Alaska coach Luigi Trillo is hoping his team can pick up from where it left off, an 86-67 blowout that neutralized San Mig’s 71-69 escape in the series opener, but must do so in the face of an expected charge by the defending champion.
“We have to match their energy. We have to be ready. Both teams will be raring to go,” said Trillo.
In their last game, the Aces managed to completely stymie the Mixers’ offense with a defense founded on stopping Denzel Bowles. The ploy worked as Bowles was held to a PBA career-low eight points.
In the intervening time, a solution must surely have been found by Bowles and the rest of San Mig and that gnaws at Trillo, prompting him to issue a directive to his charges.
“I am demanding a sense of urgency from my guys. That’s the most important thing coming into tomorrow’s (Wednesday’s) game,” stated Trillo.
Most of the protagonists’ main players, like San Mig’s James Yap, Marc Pingris, Mark Barroca, Joe Devance and PJ Simon and Alaska’s Jayvee Casio, Sonny Thoss, Calvin Abueva and Cyrus Baguio, took part in the All-Stars but saw little playing time and got enough rest.
“Now that is over both teams can settle down and just focus on winning the series,” noted Cone.
That should parlay into what could either be another blowout, as in Game 2, or a highly-defensive game as in the opener.
Main concern for San Mig is how to defy at least one defender zoning up on Bowles at the post with Alaska import Rob Dozier also always lurking to give help.
Some answers should be the Mixers’ snipers, like PJ Simon and James Yap, connecting from the outside to stretch the defense and Bowles willing to give up the ball more and opting for less harried shots.
For Alaska, it’s a matter of its defense holding up and its offense humming, like when it made made 36 of 84 field attempts in Game 2. (NC)
