Balkman ready to go head-to-head with Alab teammate Brownlee in anticipated SMB-Ginebra clash

MANILA, Philippines — Once on the same side of the fence, Renaldo Balkman has found himself on the opposite bounds, bracing for Justin Brownlee.

Former teammates at the San Miguel Alab Pilipinas in the ASEAN Basketball league, the two cagers are now reinforcing two separate teams in the PBA, and are set to duke it out for their crew’s must-have second win in the Commissioner’s Cup.

“That’s my brother, man,” Beermen’s Balkman, a returning import for the franchise, told reporters on Wednesday night. “We [were] in a same [place] about a month ago and now we play head-to-head.”

The Beermen and Brownlee’s Barangay Ginebra have an identical 1-3 win-loss record in the mid-season joust. But with the elimination phase about to reach its halfway point, a win proves to be crucial for both squad’s playoff fate.

Though momentum is on San Miguel’s side as they are coming from a win over the Phoenix Fuel Masters, who figured as the Gin Kings’ last tormentors.

“I will prepare the same way I prepare for every game,” Balkman assured. “I’m coming out there playing my game. I know he’s going to play his.”

San Miguel will have much more to lose going into the Sunday’s game. As the reigning conference champions, the spotlight beams harsher on them. The Beermen are also the only squad eligible to shoot for a Grand Slam this season.

And while Balkman guarantees that he’d bring his A-Game when he takes his former brother-at-arms, he also vows that the game — which is set to tipoff at 7 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena — will feature dogfight.

"We're going to put on a show. We’ll give the fans a great game,” he closed.

From "B 'n B" to "B v B," indeed.