BalotSports.info

Up against the team occupying the bottom of the standings in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup, powerhouse San Miguel appears to be a cinch to clinch win no. 13 and the first outright semifinals berth when it plays lowly Barako Bull Friday at the Astrodome.

But coach Siot Tanquingcen would rather not take any chances.

“Like I always say, anybody is capable of beating anybody on any given night," said Tanquingcen. “We can’t take anything for granted. Nothing is given. The only thing we have control over is our effort."

The Beermen collide with the Energy Boosters in the first game of a doubleheader that also features Sta. Lucia going up against Burger King in the main match.

In as much as Tanquingcen wants to downplay the Beermen’s role as heavy favorites against the Energy Boosters in their 5 p.m. encounter, all factors definitely go up for San Miguel.

In their first round meeting, the Beermen practically blew the game over in the first quarter, outscoring the Energy Boosters, 31-14, en route to a 104-89 triumph.

At 12-3, San Miguel is just a game behind league-leader Alaska and had been on a three-week rest since a 91-86 win over sister-team Barangay Ginebra last Dec. 20.

A victory by San Miguel marks the fourth straight time the team makes it to the semifinals.

Playing its second game in three nights, Sta. Lucia Realty battles Burger King in the first game, eyeing its second win in a row and trying to hurdle another hump in its mission to sweep its remaining four games.

"Our goal is to sweep our remaining games," said SLR coach Boyet Fernandez after the Realtors’ 95-91 win over Rain or Shine Wednesday. “But we’ll take it one game at a time. We don’t want to be in the wild card (phase). As long as we don’t fall to seven losses, we have a chance at making the quarter-finals outright."

“It’s going to be tough playing against coach Yeng (Guiao)," said Fernandez of the Whoppers.

Sta. Lucia defeated Burger King in the first round, 101-93, after rookie Josh Urbiztondo torched the Whopper with 24 points on 9-for-16 shooting.

Burger King will go into the game sporting a new face of sort. It traded Gary David and Chico Lanete to Coca-Cola on Monday, and got guard Alex Cabagnot and Wesley Gonzales in return.

Games Friday (Astrodome)
5:00 p.m. — San Miguel vs Barako Bull
7:30 p.m. — Burger king vs Sta. Lucia

Source: Author Unknown  | gmanews.tv