Beermen, Kings dispute solo lead

MANILA—San Miguel and Barangay Ginebra put impressive streaks on the line as they dispute the solo lead—and possibly the top seeding later on—in the PBA Philippine Cup elimination round at the Araneta Coliseum  in Cubao. The game is set at 6:30 p.m. with the Beermen, who have gone 7-1 with Ato Agustin calling the shots, colliding with a Gin Kings crew that has won its last six games. Alaska, meanwhile, tries to shove tail-ender Barako Bull closer to elimination in the 4 p.m. contest. The Beermen (8-2) and the Gin Kings (7-2) will be coming off impressive wins last Wednesday. Aside from the lead, the winner gets the inside track on one of the top two spots and a twice-to-beat privilege in the quarterfinals where the top eight teams will advance. Under the new format, the bottom two teams will get the door with No. 1 and No. 2 to clash with the No. 8 and No. 7 teams, respectively, needing to win just once to make the semifinals. Numbers 3 and 4 will battle it out with the fifth and sixth-ranked teams in separate best-of-three series for the right to play in the Final Four. Ginebra’s guards have been doing the most damage in the last six games for the Kings, with two-time MVP Willie Miller finally blending with a  talented backcourt made up of Mark Caguioa, Jay-Jay Helterbrand and Ronald Tubid. But for the Kings to make it seven straight and extend the tournament’s longest winning streak, they will have to effectively counter the hulking San Miguel frontline that has been made even more formidable by the return to form of Danny Seigle and Danny Ildefonso. Olsen Racela, the 40-year-old guard nearing retirement, has also been turning in quality minutes for Agustin. “I just told them to practice well, play well and you will get your minutes,” Agustin said of his veteran trio.