OVERACHIEVING San Mig rookie Ian Sangalang disputes the rebound with Barako’s Mick Pennisi during a recent Philippine Cup game. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
MANILA, Philippines — San Mig Coffee puts its unbeaten streak on the line Tuesday against Barako Bull as the Mixers try to stay within the top two in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum. Game time is 8 p.m. with the 3-0 Mixers favored to prevail over the Energy, who would need to put up nothing less than a hard fight to snatch a win and get back in the playoff hunt. With idle Talk ‘N Text at 6-0 and San Miguel Beer—which is playing Globalport at press-time—at 4-1, a loss for the Mixers would knock them out temporarily in the race for a top-two slots going into the final three weeks of the elimination round.
These powerhouse teams are looking at finishing no lower than second place at the end of this phase to grab a twice-to-beat advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
San Mig has a better-rounded team compared to the Energy, who are again expected to lean on the hot-shooting import Josh Dollard.
And that edge could allow coach Tim Cone to focus on holding down Dollard, crippling the Energy’s offense altogether.
But that is easier said than done. Dollard has had three 40-plus-point games, counting a 46-point explosion in a losing cause against San Miguel last Saturday, 100-106.
James Mays, whom Cone described as his “Mr. Everywhere,” will again have to do a lot of the intangibles for the Mixers as he tries to control the shaded lane against the big and experienced Barako Bull frontline of Mick Pennisi and Dorian Peña.
It is also interesting to see if rookie Ian Sangalang can sustain a brilliant streak dating back to the PH Cup finals against Rain or Shine.