Patriots, Beermen clash tonite

MANILA, Philippines - The AirAsia Philippine Patriots and the San Miguel Beermen square off today in a clash of the favorites in the AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League with the former seeking a second straight win and the latter out to bounce back from a setback at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The Patriots launched their campaign with an 86-58 rout of the Bangkok Cobras last week but the Beermen stumbled and dropped a 77-83 overtime loss to the Westports Malaysia Dragons in Kuala Lumpur last Sunday.

“We’re going to play against a big team,” said Patriots coach Glen Capacio. “They have wing men who are bigger than us and they got the advantage size-wise. So we have to prepare hard.”

The lone game presented by PG Flex Linoleum is set at 6 p.m.

The Beermen downed the Patriots, 84-76, in a pre-season tournament but the 2010 champions are raring to get back at their tormentors to sustain their good start in the home-and-away tournament.

Imports Nakiea Miller and Anthony Johnson are expected to lead the Patriots’ charge alongside Ardy Larong, Jonathan Fernandez, Al Vergara and Warren Ybanez.

Larong and Fernandez had eight points apiece against the Cobras while Ybanez contributed nine markers.

San Miguel Beer coach Bobby Parks hopes his wards have settled down with import Dalron Johnson tipped to spearhead the Beermen’s bid along with locals Junjun Cabatu, Benedict Fernandez and center June Mar Fajardo.