Beermen told: Sleep longer, play harder

Inside the bubble

SMART CLARK GIGA CITY, Pampanga, Philippines — Nothing beats a good night’s sleep.

Mo Tautuaa of reigning champion San Miguel leaned on this formula on a historic Tuesday morning here, when the longest single-day game schedule in the 45-year PBA history was recorded.

Tautuaa said he slept 11 hours from the night before, and was stellar with 26 points, 14 rebounds, two assists and two steals in 45 minutes as the Beermen overcame Blackwater in overtime, 90-88, in a game that was tipped off at 10 a.m.

“It’s a tough schedule so it’s going to be (depend) on who can rest best. Of course, sleep is a huge factor. Mahirap ito, but it’s our job. It’s a tough schedule but we got to do it,” said Tautuaa, who slept as early as 8 p.m. Monday night and woke up feeling good at 7 a.m. yesterday.

San Miguel’s morning game against the Elite marked the earliest in league history, raising the curtains to the league’s first quadrupleheader that included the matches of Phoenix-Terrafirma, TNT-NorthPort and Ginebra-Alaska.

The four-game, 12-hour card that was to end at around 10 p.m. was the first of five quadrupleheaders slated until the end of the elimination round on Nov. 11, comprising a record of  30 games in just a week.

More than going hard in workouts and practices, SMB coach Leo Austria has preached a change in sleeping routine for his players for the hectic schedule approaching the playoffs.

“I wanted them to have this mind-set on the game especially in terms of sleeping habits. There’s no extra preparation for we don’t want to exert too much effort in practice. We’re after the energy for the players,” he said.

Sleep like a baby, win like a champion is SMB’s new mantra in this dreaded journey to a sixth straight All-Pinoy crown.

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The bubble, of all places, served as an avenue for a reunion of sorts for collegiate players and coaches that have made leaps and bounds to the pros.

Extending the mini celebration of his 50th birthday under strict protocols, Ginebra assistant coach and FEU mentor Olsen Racela shared dinner at Charley’s Bar with FEU alumni and now PBA rookies Richard Escoto (Blackwater), Arvin Tolentino (Ginebra), Wendell Comboy (SMB) and Barkley Ebona (Alaska).

Joining them was Olsen’s brother, Nash, who also serves as Tamaraws consultant and Blackwater chief tactician.

The good old Adamson Soaring Falcons took their own trip down the memory lane as SMB mentor Austria enjoyed a brief chat with his former players Don Trollano (Blackwater), Rodney Brondial (Alaska), Jericho Cruz (NLEX) and Jansen Rios (Phoenix).

From humble beginnings in the UAAP, this cast of Falcons have made it this far in the PBA.

Sky’s the limit.