PBA: B-MEG stakes unbeaten record against winless Petron

Petron lost its first two games and is one of two teams currently languishing at the bottom of the PBA Commissioner's Cup standings but B-MEG coach Tim Cone remains wary of the Boosters. The Llamados (2-0) look to strengthen their hold of the top spot when they take on the still winless Boosters at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.

The veteran mentor expects B-MEG's sixter-team to be extra aggressive as Petron seeks out a breakthrough win in this short, elimination phase of the import-spiced tournament.

 

"Coming off two losses, Petron will most likely be a beast," Cone admitted. "We'll have to meet their intensity early and sustain good play for 48 minutes, which is something we're trying to get better at."

The Llamados won their first two outings opposite the Meralco Bolts (96-93) and Barako Bull (88-86), but will play two straight games against two of the league's powerhouse teams.

After the Boosters, the Llamados battle defending champion Talk 'N Text on February 29.

"We'll be happy with a split in those two games," Cone said. "This is a very short tournament, it's a sprint, and I'm glad that we were able to win our first two games."

 

A third straight loss for Petron would be costly as it will be left with only six games to play in the elimination round, where four teams at the bottom will be eliminated.

Barako Bull, after falling short against B-MEG, seeks to get back on the winning track when it collides with debuting Air21 in the 4:15 p.m. curtain raiser.

 

The Energy evened their record at 1-1 following that loss to the Llamados as Willie Miller missed a bank shot in the final play that could have sent the game into overtime.

Now they face an Air21 team that will parade naturalized player Marcus Douthit as its import.

 

The Express earned the right to acquire Douthit, once drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers, after the towering import expressed his desire to play as a reinforcement in the conference.

 

Coach Franz Pumaren just hopes the former Smart Gilas-Pilipinas big man would be able to blend right away with his team, which ended its campaign in the last Philippine Cup winless in 14 games.

 

Testing Douthit in his first PBA outing as an import is Barako Bull's DerMarr Johnson, who had 21 points and nine rebounds in a losing cause against B-MEG. — JVP, GMA News