MANILA, Philippines — Still smarting from a rare meltdown that led to a loss to NLEX, defending champion San Miguel Beer looks to bounce back with a win against Phoenix when they clash on Sunday in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The Beermen and the Fuel Masters collide at 7:30 p.m.
The 5:15 p.m. curtain raiser features NLEX and Terrafirma.
SMB led by as many as 13 points against NLEX, which despite playing without ace guard Robert Bolick, managed to mount a major comeback to pull off a cliffhanging 85-84 win last Wednesday.
The Beermen for sure, are expected to come out with their guns blazing against a Fuel Masters side that opened the season with a 93-78 loss to the TNT Tropang 5G last Friday.
With a new coach in Willy Wilson, Phoenix will try to also regroup, but will have to find ways how to contain nine-time PBA Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo and a slew of SMB veteran gunners.
Meanwhile, Bolick is still expected to be out as he’s still in the US following the passing of his father.
“I think (Bolick will be back) next week. We should give him some time. He’s close to his father,” said NLEX coach Jong Uichico “We should give him as much time as we can si when he comes back, he will have the right mindset.”
Young big men Jonnel Policarpio and Brandon Ramirez banged in 16 points apiece for the Road Warriors against the Beermen.
The two are expected to figure prominently again for NLEX, which battles a Terrafirma side that opened the season with a 107-87 loss to Blackwater.
