The San Miguel Beermen is scheduled for a head-to-head game against the NLEX Road Warriors at 7:00 P.M. on July 5, 2019 live from the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The struggling Beermen are looking to end their losing skid and start to pick up more victories while the Road Warriors wanted to make a follow-up win this evening when the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup continues in Pasay City.
Considering that they’re the mighty San Miguel Beermen which won the last five titles of the Philippine Cup and was also the champion of the 2017 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, it seems that 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup is a mistake.
SMB is currently lurking at the 10th place and there’s a possibility that they’re going to get eliminated if they can’t make consistent wins.
To remedy that problem, the franchise has sent back Charles Rhodes and replaced him with a former first-round pick in the NBA and that’s Chris McCullough.
“Susubukan pa rin naming makuha ‘yung maliit na chance na hindi pa naman tapos. Hindi pa sarado ang pinto. May bintana pa,” said SMB team captain Arwind Santos.
If the Beermen will finish eight after the elimination round then they’ll face a team that holds a twice-to-beat advantage.
“Hindi kami masaya sa 2-5. Kahit mapunta lang kami sa Top Eight; eighth position na lang. Minsan, na-experience ko na mangarap ng mataas. Pangarapin naman namin yung Top Eight tapos lalabanan namin ‘yung No. 1, twice-to-beat tapos tatalunin namin. Parang ganon,” Santos also said.
For the Road Warriors on the other hand, after making that import switch it seems that NLEX found new energy.
With Olu Ashaolu, the squad led by coach Yeng Guiao defeated the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 100-97.
NLEX is also in a down-but-not-out situation and it’s obvious that they too, wanted to make it to the top-eight.