On a four-game winning run, B-MEG enters a stretch in the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup where its pre-season favorite tag will be severely tested.
First up for the Llamados are the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, whom they take in a potentially-explosive match up Friday night at the Araneta Coliseum.By next week, its defending champion Talk 'N Text which awaits B-MEG in the second of a grueling schedule that may have a big impact on whether the team gets to earn a twice-to-beat incentive by finishing possibly at number two by the end of the elimination round.
The Llamados are currently at fourth place with a 6-4 (win-loss) card.
"Remarkably, we are still in the hunt for the second seed,” said coach Tim Cone, whose team struggled early on and began the season with a 2-4 record.
“We play the leaders, Rain or Shine and TNT, over our next two games so that makes the hunt even more difficult. Coach Yeng's (Guiao) teams are always unique in their approach and it's always a huge adjustment to play (against) his teams. We need to be smart and tough to be successful against them.”
The Llamados have won four straight, the last of which an 88-76 trouncing of sister-team Barangay Ginebra Kings where six players, led by James Yap's 17 markers, finished in double figures.
The Elasto Painters are tied for second place with Petron, both with 7-3 slates, but have lost their last two outings, including a heartbreaking 106-104 overtime setback against the Tropang Texters in Cagayan de Oro City.
Another loss and the Llamados will stay close with the Painters at 7-4.
In the 5:15 p.m. opener, Powerade takes on winless Shopinas.com with the Tigers seeking a victory that would give them some distance against the rejuvenated Alaska Aces.
At 3-7, the Tigers are just half a game behind the Aces (3-8) in the tight-battle for the last playoff berth.
“Where we are right now is not where we wanted to be,” said Powerade coach Bo Perasol. “However, where we desire to be is still possible. Our starting point is a win against Shopinas.com.”
The Clickers are still winless and are now in PBA record books as the first franchise ever in league history to lose 11 straight games. <B>— JVP, GMA News</B>
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