Petron Blaze Boosters Basketball Updates

Photo Credit: PBA.ph

The San Miguel Beermen will be out today to extend its 3-game winning streak as it faces the injury-plagued but gritty Barangay Ginebra Kings squad without starting point guard Mike Cortez.

Though its sad to hear about Mike Cortez’ injury, it’s quite a blessing in disguise for the Beermen as he was not dishing out good performances this conference. It’s very evident that he had a hard time setting up SMB’s plays, racks up turnovers after turnovers, and made bad decisions during endgame causing SMB wins even way back last season.

SMB fans who are rooting for Chris Calaguio to play will surely be happy after SMB reactivated him.

An article from PBA.ph expands more on this topic:

San Miguel Beer, team that has already racked up three straight wins after blowing its season-opener, tries to extend its winning run today without starting guard Mike Cortez.

The Beermen will play the Kings less one ace playmaker. Cortez tore his ACL in their game against Talk N Text last Friday and would require surgery, meaning that the former No. 1 draft pick would be out for the rest of the tournament or at least six months, according to Tanquingcen.

As a result, the Beermen have reactivated Chris Calaguio from the reserve list, somehow maintaining the power at the backcourt, which has been boosted this conference with the entry of Bon-Bon Custodio, the rookie and former University of the East standout.

San Miguel will be eyeing to pick up its fourth win in five games and try to remain at solo second behind Alaska, the only undefeated team right now at 4-0.

Ginebra, on the other hand, will try to bounce back from a 94-100 setback to Red Bull last Friday in an outcome that was shocking in every bit, especially for one that has already pulled off wins against defending champion Sta. Lucia and Air21.

Already without Mark Caguioa, who is still in the U.S. reportedly rehabilitating a knee injury, the Kings will go into the 7:00 p.m. game without Ronald Tubid.

Tubid committed two flagrant fouls 1 against the Barakos – one each on Rich Alvarez and on Jojo Duncil – and was suspended by the PBA for one game. He was also fined P20,000.

Despite the liabilities, Ginebra coach Jong Uichico hopes that he could come up with one big surprise.

“We are preparing as hard as we could and I hope that we could pull this one off,” said Uichico. “Alam mo naman itong team na ito, hindi basta-basta sumusuko.” (GR)