Pressure on SMB vs Red Bull in Game 2

What a difference one win in the title series makes. Red Bull has evoked a keen sense of self-confidence after its 80-78 win Sunday and San Miguel Beer more wary now of its strapping rivals in the current PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-seven championship.

Consider the activities of the warring coaches 24 hours before Game Two.

Red Bull’s Yeng Guiao even found time to attend the PSA Forum in the morning, talking openly on his thoughts in the series and even discussing his province’s plan to bid for the hosting of the 2005 Southeast Asian Games. He supervised the team’s workout in the afternoon at the RFM gym in Mandaluyong.

San Miguel’s Jong Uichico excused himself from the same forum and retreated with his staff to their Pasig war room before calling his charges to practice at the Green Meadows Gym in the afternoon.

Apparently, the pressure is heavy on the fancied SMB squad as the Thunder and the Beermen play the second game of their title playoff at 7:30 p.m. today at the Philsports Arena.

"We’re just gambling and experimenting. But at this point we’re already on a win-win situation. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Whatever happens, my young team will come out of this a better team," said Guiao.

"Naka-tsamba na kami dahil na zero-one namin sila. Pero kapag naging zero-two, ibang usapan na yan. That would mean whatever adjustments they made after Game One didn’t work in Game Two. We would be in control of the situation," he added.

The two-time champion coach said they will have the same goal in Game Two – limit San Miguel’s big three of Nate Johnson, Danny Ildefonso and Dan Seigle to no more than 60 points.

"It turned out that our projection was right in Game One. We limited the three to 58 points. Kung naging 60 iyung combined output nila, the game should have gone into overtime and we might have lost it," said Guiao.

Meanwhile, Ildefonso, Mike Mustre and SMB assistant coach Art dela Cruz were fined a total of P40,000 in the aftermath of the torrid endgame last Sunday. Ildefonso was fined P20,000 for protesting the non-call on Seigle in the closing seconds. Dela Cruz was slapped P10,000 and Mustre P10,000 for cursing the referees on the way to the dugout.