Beermen return to action vs E-Painters

MANILA, Philippines —  With San Miguel Beer just getting its feet wet in the PBA Philippine Cup, Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao feels it’s the best time to ambush the defending champions.

“Probably a good time to play them,” Guiao said ahead of today’s showdown with the Beermen, who are hitting the court for the first time since capturing the Commissioner’s Cup back on Feb. 14.

“Siguro wala pang masyadong sense of urgency, kasi nga kaka-champion lang nila. That might be something we can take advantage of.”

Going to the 4:30 p.m. tiff at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Guiao’s troops enjoy the benefit of being in the heat of battle already, although their first three outings all ended in losses.

If you ask SMB counterpart Jorge Gallent, though, the Beermen are ready to go.

“We’re good,” said Gallent, a first-time champion coach who is in position to score a sweep of the two-conference season in the All-Filipino.

Gallent is drawing confidence from the fact it’s virtually all hands on deck for SMB, with June Mar Fajardo (calf) and Terrence Romeo (ankle) back in the grind after sustaining injuries in the previous title drive.

“Nag-start kami weights and court na iyon kaya medyo bugbugan na iyon,” said Gallent, who reassembled his crew last March 4. “We were only nine sa start, pero na-achieve naman namin iyung gusto naming ma-achieve sa mga hard practices namin lately. And now we have 14 players.”

Meanwhile, unbeaten Barangay Ginebra seeks to make it three straight and maintain its hold of the lead versus struggling Meralco (1-3) in the 7:30 p.m. main gig.