Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Wednesday, October 22, 2025

San Mig battles Blackwater

DIAMOND Stone is so high on defending champion San Miguel Beer’s list that the Beermen opted to place original choice Thomas Robinson on the reserve list, for now.

Whether SMB’s gamble will pay off will be known when it launches its title bid against Blackwater today in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The curtain-raiser is set at 3 p.m., with the Beermen making their debut in the mid-season tourney after winning it all in the last Philippine Cup.

IMPORT BATTLE: Rain or Shine reinforcement Steve Taylor drives past Terrafirma counterpart Lester Prosper in last Sunday’s game won by the Elasto Painters 106-94. PBA PHOTO

TNT, which wound up as bridesmaid in the season-opening tilt, tangles with Magnolia in the other game at 5:45.

Robinson, tabbed fifth overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2012 NBA draft, is reportedly being hobbled by nagging back spasms since late last week.

Beermen coach Leo Austria gushed on Robinson’s skills that made him a six-year campaigner with stops at the Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, Philadelphia Sixers, Brooklyn Nets, and Los Angeles Lakers.

“We are so excited to have him kasi nga we see that Robinson, talagang magaling and can dominate,” Austria said.

“Ang downer lang, we have to bring down one of our big men because of Robinson’s presence,” he added.

But Robinson’s maiden foray in the pro league will have to wait.

Aside from Stone, a second-round selection of the New Orleans Pelicans in the draft six years ago who briefly saw action for the LA Clippers, SMB will rely on June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Marcio Lassiter, Vic Manuel, Mo Tautuaa, and Chris Ross.

The Bossing, coming off a sorry 102-105 loss to NLEX last Friday, will pin their hopes on reinforcement Cameron Krutwig, Troy Rosario, Gab Banal, Rey Suerte, and Ato Ular to improve their 1-2 mark.

 

- Advertisement -spot_img
- Advertisement -spot_imgspot_img

E-Paper

More Stories

Related Stories