Marcio Lassiter (right) and the Beermen are going through a busy game schedule that could determine their conference fate. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ
San Miguel Beer broke a deadlock Sunday night when it escaped sister team but fierce rival Magnolia in a very important duel that could spell the fate of both teams heading into the Commissioner’s Cup playoffs.
But Marcio Lassiter, one of the heroes of that 85-78 triumph at Ynares Center in Antipolo City, knows the traditional powerhouse isn’t out of the woods yet.
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“The results, the ranking show what we are capable of. But this conference was really a lot for us,” he told reporters following the competition that allowed San Miguel to improve its record to reach an even record of 4-4 (win-loss) , good for eighth place in the race.
The Beermen have tried to adjust to the return of former coach Leo Austria, acclimating new players like Juami Tiongson and Andreas Cahilig, and balancing their PBA matches with East Asian Super League matches .
“It’s not going to be easy. We have a lot of tough teams coming up. And I think it’s all the top half (of teams) right now,” Lassiter continued.
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San Miguel will attempt to emerge from that dicey eighth seed with a series of games that will include dangerous Meralco, league leader NorthPort, budding rival Converge and Governors Cup titlist TNT.
“I hope so,” Marcio replied when asked about San Miguel’s championship pedigree which has carried the club through difficult times. But having been in this league for a while, the PBA’s top marksman is also aware that most basketball games these days tend to be decided towards the end.
“We know we can rely on (experience). But like again tonight, it was a really close match. And that’s what it’s going to come down to a lot of times: in clutch time,” he said.
A sweep of their final four games would significantly change the Beermen’s predicament, but it would be the best recourse in a playoff round that is entering a critical juncture.
Tuesday games
That hectic energy will be all around Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Tuesday when the Bolts take on the Batang Pier and the FiberXers take on Rain or Shine in a duel of two teams trying to bounce back from a loss.
“They have found a rhythm, their import seems well suited, bringing a lot and their (recent) exchanges have helped them become more balanced,” Meralco coach Luigi Trillo said of the leaders.
“I’m happy with the way we played defensively (against TNT), but we have to follow through on it, which is going to be difficult because they have several points of attack,” he added, referring to NorthPort. cornerstone Arvin Tolentino and two-way ace Joshua Munzon, among others.
“Obviously, they win games. So we’re going to come in with a chip on our shoulders, ready to take down the best team,” Bolts import Akil Mitchell said.
“You want to talk about a big win?” It would be huge for us, really important for us. The guys are motivated, and I know I will definitely be motivated against a (fellow import) who has a good reputation and a team that is winning at the moment.
Ranked 7th with five wins against three losses, Meralco could certainly use another win to help its cause as the race within the race begins to heat up.
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Conference No. 2 Rain or Shine and No. 4 Converge, meanwhile, feature in a matchup that could give them a boost in the quest for two-time protection. INQ
