PBA: San Miguel, Alaska tackle lightweight foes

MANNY Pacquiao of KIA and Talk ‘N Text import Ivan Johnson jockey for position during their recent PBA match won by the Carnival, 106-103. AFP

MANILA, Philippines—Alaska and San Miguel Beer, powerhouses in the bottom half of the standings, clash against separate lightly regarded foes Tuesday seeking to get something going before the PBA goes into its Annual All-Star break later this week.

After figuring in a Philippine Cup Finals for the ages less than two months ago, the Aces and the champion Beermen have been struggling big time, with San Miguel, despite its high-priced lineup, languishing in the cellar with a 1-6 record.

At 2-4, Alaska is just slightly better off, and the Aces would need to string together some wins to figure in the playoff picture, starting with their clash with KIA Motors and PJ Ramos at 4:15 p.m. at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

San Miguel Beer battles Solomon Alabi and Barako Bull in the 7 p.m. nightcap with the Energy also hoping to sustain their surprising run and stay on top of both Alaska and the Beermen in the standings.

The Aces have failed to play with the same harmony that they did in the Philippine Cup and will come into tonight’s contest seeking to end a two-game losing streak—both with new import Damion Jones.

Jones is shooting close to 34 points a night and is grabbing over 13 rebounds in his first two games in the league. But since taking over from DJ Covington, the member of the 2014 NBA champ San Antonio squad has yet to taste victory.

And against KIA, it won’t be a walk in the park for Jones since the Carnival are also battling for a playoff spot, not to mention that he has a 7-foot-3 man-mountain in Ramos to contain.

“Ramos is a problem for anyone to handle,” Alaska coach Alex Compton said. “Their local players are stepping up. So far, it has been an excellent conference for them (Carnival).”

Ramos drained 49 points and had 20 rebounds in a loss to fellow expansion club Blackwater on Sunday.

San Miguel, meanwhile, played its best game of the conference also on Sunday but lost a nail-biter, 113-105, to sister squad Purefoods in overtime, just the same.