The San Miguel Beermen (SMB) is scheduled for a head-to-head game against the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters at 6:45 PM on November 5, 2020, live from the AUF Sports Arena and Cultural Center in Angeles City, Pampanga.
Reigning champions San Miguel Beermen survives the hard-fighting Blackwater Elite for a 4th straight win in the PBA bubble restart.
San Miguel bucked another slow start and banked on their experience to survive an error-filled finish against the Elite in overtime, 90-88, that sent them closer to the quarterfinals with a 5-2 win-loss record.
Mo Tautuaa, who came up big for the Beermen with his double-double of 26 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Beermen, said: “It’s just getting that continuity with our teammates. We’re starting to get more comfortable playing with each other, and it shows in the game.”
Marcio Lassiter added 12 points and 6 rebounds, while Alex Cabagnot had 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists for the Beermen.
The plan now for San Miguel is “to manage our recovery,” said SMB head coach Leo Austria.
“The X and O’s, it’s not really important right now. What’s important for them in 24 hours is for them to get back to having the right energy because we know our next opponent is Phoenix, a very energetic team. So we have to manage our players’ bodies,” said Austria.
Speaking of the Beermen’s opponent later, Phoenix rode on the hot hands of Matthew Wright and the triple-double effort of Calvin Abueva as the Fuel Masters routed winless Terrafirma in the PBA bubble, 116-94.
Wright pumped 16 of his 33 points in the second quarter to preside over a second-quarter run that saw the Fuel Masters taking a 59-55 lead at the break after trailing for most of the first half. Then Abueva connived with Justin Chua, RJ Jazul, and Jason Perkins to sustain the lead, which ballooned to as much as 29 points on the way to notching the team’s fifth win as against three losses.
Wright shot 6-of-12 from three-point range as he continues to lead the league in scoring, while Abueva finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists for a triple-double in only his third game back from a long layoff. RJ Jazul added 16 points, Perkins and Heruela each had 14, while Chua with 10 in a balanced scoring for the Fuel Masters.