Game to Show Up For : San Miguel (4-2) vs Purefoods (3-2)

The usual two games on schedule for today. But if one of them features the Coca-cola Tigers, then the pick is easy. Watch the other one.

San Miguel is streaking right now. They look like they have things figured out. The offense is there. The defense is top-notch. They look like the San Miguel Beermen again and they look scary. Arwind Santos has figured out his role on the team. Kudos to Santos for keeping his shot selection under control in the previous game. Only 2 attempts from beyond the arc and 10 of 16 on two-pointers.

Purefoods will be coming out confident after a spectacular performance against TNT where they scored 119 points per 100 possessions. And Giants coach Ryan Gregorio thinks his squad plays with more intensity against the top teams. San Miguel, of course, qualifies for a top team. So this game should be good.

Look for a nice battle on the boards. Purefoods and San Miguel are 1-2 in defensive rebounding. Both teams routinely crash the boards so second-chance points will be precious in this game. Both are pretty good on offensive glass as well, so rebounding will be very important tonight.

The key to the game, though, will probably be getting to the free throw line. Purefoods is one of the best teams in the league in terms of getting fouled but they also send their opponents to the line quite a bit.

In the Purefoods loss to Coke, they sent the Tigers to the line 38 times against 25 for the Giants. Against TNT, the Giants marched to the charity stripe for 43 attempts against only 16 for the Tropang Texters. TNT is a three-point shooting team, so it’s understandable why they couldn’t get fouled more often.

SMB can rip this game wide open if they stay aggressive on offense and try to get to the line. The Beermen have a tendency to fall in love with the jumpshot, like TNT, and that’s what Purefoods needs to force. Remember, they beat TNT despite the MVP-owned franchise nailing 16 three-pointers in that game.

There you go. A rolling SMB team. A motivated and confident Purefoods team. The best defensive team in the league against the 2nd best offensive team. Plenty of big names. James Yap, Arwind Santos, Kerby Raymundo, Mick Pennisi, Mike Cortez. Should be good.

SMB
Probable starters: Mick Pennisi, Lordy Tugade, Arwind Santos, Dondon Hontiveros, Jonas Villanueva
97.5 possessions (3rd), 95.3 Offensive Efficiency (5th), 88.4 Defensive Efficiency (1st)

Purefoods
Probable starters: Jondan Salvador, Kerby Raymundo, Rico Maierhofer, James Yap, Roger Yap
90.1 possessions (10th), 101.8 Offensive Efficiency (2nd), 99.1 Defensive Efficiency (10th)