With their three-game romp, the Giants and the Beermen now look every inch the title contenders they were touted to be, with the Giants out to break out of a tie with Talk n Text for fourth with 4-3 cards and the Beermen eyeing win No. 4 after dropping their first three games.
Coca-Cola and Air21, two teams closely behind San Miguel, clash in the other game at 4:35 p.m.
The Express will be playing their first game following Ronald Tubid’s transfer to the Barangay Ginebra Kings.
"Ronald had given us quality minutes. But he’s gone and we’ll make do with what we have," said Air21 coach Bo Perasol.
Coaches Ryan Gregorio and Chot Reyes attributed their turnaround on mental, rather than mere physical, adjustments.
"We just recalled our happy moments last season. We kept a positive mind and it worked," said Gregorio as his Giants made it three in a row last Friday with an 82-78 thumping of the Alaska Milk Aces.
Incidentally, the Giants made it 3-of-3 on a busy schedule spanning seven days.
"My message to the boys was that we’re used to situations like this, having been in the Finals the last two conferences. Sabi ko sa kanila wala tayong dapat problemahin sa sunud-sunod na laro," said Gregorio.
After a 1-3 (win-loss) start, the Giants made a big charge, going 3-of-3 against formidable rivals — the Sta. Lucia Realtors, the Talk n Text Phone Pals and the Aces.
Purefoods will be coming out fresh from a week-long breather. San Miguel, however, has its own long rest, and the Beermen are raring to plunge back into action with a healthier lineup that now also features two-time MVP winner Danny Ildefonso.
The Beermen welcomed Ildefonso’s return on Oct. 26 with a 118-102 derailing of the Air21 Express in Subic. Before that, the Beermen thrashed the Aces, 81-71, then whipped the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 101-97, in overtime.
Suddenly, everything’s falling into place for the Beermen after figuring in a trade deal with Ginebra and Red Bull that brought to the team Romel Adducul and Lordy Tugade.
The Beermen have turned their fortunes around although coach Reyes has yet to make full use of Tugade, who’s nursing an injury.