Beermen target solo third

Guiao, Erram, Fajardo rejoin mother teams

Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4:30 p.m. – NorthPort vs Meralco

7 p.m. – San Miguel vs NLEX

MANILA, Philippines — National coach Yeng Guiao and three Gilas heroes rejoin their mother ball clubs as San Miguel Beer and NLEX clash in a crucial tiff in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum today.

Guiao will be back on the saddle as the Road Warriors face the Beermen in a match also marking the PBA comeback of June Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter and Poy Erram from their glorious journey with Team Phl in the FIBA World Cup qualifier.

The Beermen (4-3) hope to pick up from where they left off before the league took a break during the last FIBAWC window, seeking solo third place behind the pacesetting Phoenix Fuel Masters (8-1) and the second-running Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (7-3).

The Road Warriors, meanwhile, seek to right the ship, going for an upset versus the reigning all-Filipino four-time champs in a bid to improve from their current spot outside the magic eight.

San Miguel and NLEX mix it up at 7 p.m. after the 4:30 p.m. clash between NorthPort (2-3) and Meralco (2-5) marking the return of Stanley Pringle from a one-game suspension.

The Batang Pier are likely to play with fire in the belly, after being denied of a win the last time out on an erroneous call by the referee who has since been suspended indefinitely.

“It’s very unfortunate especially as the guys worked hard for it, putting themselves in a good position to win even in the absence of Stanley Pringle,” said NorthPort top official Erick Arejola.

Pringle served a suspension in their 96-98 loss to Phoenix Pulse for hitting Columbian Dyip’s JayR Reyes in a tune-up match during the league break.

Back in the NLEX-SMB match, Guiao has put his coming World Cup duty on the back burner to give focus on the campaign of his mother team.

With Guiao and his Gilas team on the road, assistant coach Jojo Lastimosa ran the practice sessions for the Road Warriors.

But Guiao has been back for over a week, along with Erram.

Meanwhile, Fajardo and Lassiter are back for the Beermen, who currently share fourth spot with the TNT KaTropa at 4-3.

Fajardo, Arwind Santos and Terrence Romeo all exploded for at least 22 points each as the Beermen crushed the Magnolia Hotshots, 113-92, in their last outing on Feb. 10.

In their most recent game, the Road Warriors, meanwhile, dropped an 82-83 heartbreaker against the Phoenix Fuel Masters.