In-form Beermen eye 3rd win in row

Reigning champion San Miguel Beer battles sister team Coca-Cola today, seeking to sustain the momentum of back-to-back victories in its chase of the frontrunners in the San Mig Coffee PBA Fiesta Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Despite languishing at the cellar with a 3-8 win-loss record, the Beermen have been in remarkable shape lately, having won their last two games against tough rivals, the Alaska Milk Aces and the Red Bull Barakos.

They try to make it three in a row as they tangle with the Tigers at 7:25 p.m., after the 4:40 p.m. tiff between the Barakos and the Sta. Lucia Realtors.

The Barakos came out of a two-week layoff looking rusty, bowing to the Beermen, 77-83, in their out-of-town tussle last Sunday at the University of San Agustin gym in Iloilo City.

But the Realtors were even worse in their first game in 17 days as they were humbled by an importless Alaska rival, 82-87, Wednesday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Sta. Lucia absorbed its eighth loss in 13 outings despite the return of old import Damien Owens who had 19 points, 15 rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

The Aces performed efficiently minus an import, Overcoming early double-digit deficits in pulling the rug from the Realtors. Victor Thomas was barred from suiting up for Alaska as he was measured half-inch over the 6-foot-6 height ceiling for imports.

Before the league took a brief break to give way to the country’s hosting of the 23rd Southeast Asian Games, the Barakos surged to second place in the team standings with two straight wins over the badly stunned Talk n Text Phone Pals.

Talk n Text, however, has recovered from those setbacks, defeating pacesetter Purefoods, 93-89, also Wednesday at the Ynares Center.