With their respective skids halted, defending champion San Miguel Beer and Blackwater are seeking to pump more fuel into their turnaround plans in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
And as they clash Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, one will make it two in a row and hopefully start a streak after a shaky start.
Buoyed by the return of multi-titled coach Leo Austria and the arrival of new import Torren Jones, the Beermen restored order off a two-game slide by trumping Terrafirma, 106-88.
Austria was reinstalled into the main post as SMB made a course correction after disappointing losses to NLEX (99-104) and Rain or Shine (107-93) that followed a lackluster 107-103 come-from-behind opening win over Phoenix.
Nine-time champion Austria was plucked from his consultant portfolio in January 2023 to take over from Jorge Gallent, who slid to consultant in the process.
“May marching order or wala (from SMC management), the expectation is high for San Miguel,” said Austria, who got his appointment Thursday night on the eve of the duel with Terrafirma.
“We’re always pressured to win. Even though hindi nila sinasabing we have to win, many people are not used to seeing San Miguel losing.”
Meanwhile, the Bossing finally scored a breakthrough after a 0-3 start in the mid-season conference, taking down all-Filipino Meralco, 114-98, last Thursday.
This should embolden Jeff Cariaso’s charges, led by George King and Sedrick Barefield, as they try to pull off another upset against Jones, Fajardo, CJ Perez, and the rejuvenated Beermen.
“We’re learning that anything can happen when we do things together,” said Cariaso.
“All we’re asking from our guys is to go out there every night, understanding that it doesn’t matter who we’re playing against; it will always be a formidable opponent.
Whether we’re super undersized, just undersized, or don’t match up well, we go out there and fight.”