MAHINDRA, a side that has so far been the surprise of the PBA Governors’ Cup, and San Miguel Beer, the defending champion also deemed as the team to beat, battle today for the solo elimination round lead of the season-ending conference at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Beermen test the full mettle of the Enforcers in the 4:15 p.m. contest even as NLEX and Barangay Ginebra clash in the 7 p.m. contest with both looking to bounce back from losses.
Mahindra has taken down Star and GlobalPort and will be facing a real acid test in San Miguel, a side that is loaded with local talent and yet has one of the yardsticks among imports in Arizona Reid.
San Miguel, meanwhile, will be coming off a tight win over NLEX, a 94-93 nipping of the Road Warriors which could serve as a wake-up call of sorts for the Beermen.
June Mar Fajardo will have an obvious advantage over anyone in the Mahindra lineup inside the paint, and San Miguel has a bevy of outside shooters who can help free the shaded lane for the reigning two-time MVP to do his damage.
This will be the concern for rookie coach Chris Gavina, who has done wonders calling the shots for the Enforcers in their hottest league start to date.
“As long as we stay disciplined in offense and defense, we know we can compete against anybody,” Gavina had said after clipping the Batang Pier last week. “But [with a 2-0 start] we want to stay humble, stay hungry.”
James White, the former Georgia Tech standout, has made heads turn in his first two games on local soil, doing almost everything to help the Enforcers.
While White is the tallest import at well over 6-foot-8, Reid has the experience of a long pro career and the scoring touch that has made him one of the most prolific imports this league has seen in the modern day.
“He still doesn’t know how good he can be,” Gavina said of his youthful import, the youngest in the field at 22.