Laro ngayon (Smart-Araneta Coliseum):
7pm -- San Miguel Beer vs. Alaska
Mawakasan ng mas maaga ang serye ang hangad ng San Miguel Beer habang pumapabor naman ang Alaska sa mas mahabang serye para sa kanilang pagtitipan sa best-of-seven finals series ng 2015 PBA hilippine Cup na magsisimula ngayong gabi sa Smart Araneta Coliseum.
50.78% examinees, pasado sa Nov. 2024 Licensure Exam for Agriculturists
"Kung ako papipiliin, kung maari as soon as possible matapos agad," pahayag ni Beermen coach Leo Austria na nagsabing kung makakaya nila ay mas gusto nilang maulit ang sweep na nagawa nila sa semifinals kontra Talk 'N Text.
Ngunit batid ni Austria na hindi ganun kadali ang kanilang nais mangyari. Katunayan, inamin nito na problema para sa kanila kung paano tatalunin ang Aces.
"Kung natatandaan nyo, they beat us in our first meeting in the eliminations. And i1's our problem, how to beat them," ani Austria.
"This team (Alaska) runs very well just like a well-oiled machine and their defense is very different and tha1's what coach Alex Compton is telling that they are winning because of their defense and I believe him," ayon pa kay Austria.
Sa panig naman ng Aces, sang-ayon si Compton na sila ang underdog sa duwelong ito gaya ng sinasabi ng ilang eksperto .
"We're considered the underdog so para sa'kin kung mas mahabang series tha1's good for us cause we can find a way on how we can match if not stop their strenght," ani Compton.
"San Miguel play so much as a team, we have similar strengths but mas marami silang strengths and they have so much power.We just have to find a way to make a basket," ayon pa sa Alaska mentor na dating assistant playing import ni Austria nang head coach pa ito ng Welcoat Paints na ngayo 'y kilala bilang Rain or Shine noong 2006 hang gang 2007 sa liga.
Ayon pa kay Compton, hindi lamang si June Mar Fajardo ang kailangan nilang mapigil sa koponan ng Beermen dahil mar ami silang threats na gaya nina Arwind Santos, Chris Lutz at Chris Ross, Marcio Lassiter, Ronald Tubid at Alex Cabagnot.
Para naman kay Austria, maari aniyang si Fajardo ang kanilang pangunahing sandata sa sasabakang giyera, ngunit nanggagaling naman ang lakas ni Fajardo sa kanyang mga kakampi.
"It's true that our strength is June Mar Fajardo, but June Mar's strength is the team. It' s a team sport so we have to play as a team," paliwanag ni Austria.
Samantala, upang mapigil naman ang pananalasa ni Fajardo, kinakailangan umanong magtulungtulong lahat ng mga players ng Aces na nasa loob ng court sa sandaling ipaasok na si Fajardo.
"June Mar has established himself as the best player in the league.He's also quite bigger than anyone so it's gonna be a challenge for us to stop him," ayon kay Aces slotrnan Sonny Thoss.
"We have to face whoever is coming in front of us. June Mar's gonna be a handful but it' s a five man game.The five guys have to help each other out to stop him. The whole team has to help each other out," ayon pa kay Thoss na tinutukoy ang nagawa nila noong Nobyembre 1 nang matalo nila ang Beermen sa nakaraang eliminations.
Bukod naman kay Thoss at Abueva, ang iba pang aasahan ni Compton upang pamunuan sa kanilang kampanya ang Alaska sina Dondon Hontiveros, Cyrus Baguio, Eric Menk, Jvee Casio , Vic Manuel ,RJ Jazul at Ping Exciminiano.
