TWO sizzling teams and two bottom squads head on separate collision courses as the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup resumes today.
Pace-setting San Miguel Beer (4-0) wants to continue its rampage, but another streaking team stands in its way as GlobalPort (2-2) likewise aims to keep going in their 7 p.m encounter at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
In the initial game, Meralco (1-3) and Kia (1-4), the two last-placed teams, face each other at 4:30 p.m. to open hostilities as both are in dire need of a victory.
The still unbeaten Beermen and the rejuvenated Batang Pier are both armed with respective winning streaks coming in.
The defending champion now looks forward to a possible fifth straight win, while GlobalPort, after starting at 0-2, carries a two-game streak and shoots for a third straight.
Both teams are coming off impressive victories last Friday.
The Beermen withstood a highly physical game before taking down NLEX, 109-98, while the Batang Pier hardly broke a sweat as it impressed in its 101-76 annihilation of Blackwater.
As usual, San Miguel Beer will bank on its longtime championship core, while GlobalPort will rely on the tremendous 1-2 punch of Stanley Pringle and Sean Anthony, who have been sensational for the Batang Pier thus far, carrying much of the load for the team in the absence of star Terrence Romeo.
While the main event offers two teams on the rise, the first offering features teams who need to rise.
The Bolts are so far showing their old ways as this All-Filipino tournament continues to be their waterloo, having lost three straight after winning their first assignment.
They were once again routed in their last outing by TNT KaTropa just last Sunday.
Meralco coach Norman Black, given his frustration with his team’s performance, declined interviews after the Bolts’ last setback.
On the other hand, the Picanto had finally snapped out of its long 16-game losing streak that lasted nearly eight months dating back to last season after upsetting Rain or Shine, 98-84, last Saturday.
A victory for either of them will be big boost to getting them right in the thick of things against the teams above.