The Blackwater Bossing could have been 2-1 after three games in the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup, but they could not prevent themselves from collapsing in a 105-102 loss last Friday to the NLEX Road Warriors. Nevertheless, they have a shot at going back up to .500 when they face the freshly-minted Governors’ Cup San Miguel Beermen. The Beermen’s core from the last conference remains intact and added a former NBA first-round pick to their roster as an import.
Catch this game live on Wednesday, October 5 at 3 pm, Manila time.
Blackwater Bossing (1-2)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Baser Amer
- SG: Rashawn McCarthy
- SF: Renato Ular
- PF: Troy Rosario
- C: Cameron Krutwig
One thing you can say about Blackwater is that this is a team not afraid to share the ball. In the last conference, the Bossing ended up second with a 65.7% assist rate. After three games this conference, the Bossing are also second with 24 assists per game, which is to be expected with Cameron Krutwig coming to town as the team’s reinforcement.
Krutwig isn’t the flashiest or most athletic import out there, but he is bringing with him the qualities that helped the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers become a Cinderella favorite in recent years in the US NCAA. In the loss to NLEX, Krutwig had a near triple-double of 19 points, 14 rebounds, and 8 assists. Meanwhile, Baser Amer had 26 points on 8/16 shooting with four 3-pointers. San Miguel is always going to be a tough team to beat, but Blackwater sometimes plays greater than the sum of its parts because of its willingness to pass the ball, and now the Bossing have the import that also buys completely into that philosophy.
San Miguel Beermen (0-0)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG:Chris Ross
- SG: CJ Perez
- SF: Marcio Lassiter
- PF: June Mar Fajardo
- C: Diamond Stone
San Miguel is well-rested. The last time the Beermen saw action was way back in the first week of September when they took home the 2022 Philippine Cup title. And they seem to have gotten even scarier this time around with the addition of Diamond Stone to the squad. Stone isn’t the original reinforcement pick of San Miguel, but Thomas Robinson’s problematic back has forced the Beermen to make a late switch.
Ther 6-11 Stone is expected to provide San Miguel with yet another towering body in the middle. Stone gravity could also only further boost the already tremendous ceiling of Junemar Fajardo, who is coming off one of the best conferences ever by a local player. Take note too that Blackwater just allowed NLEX to shoot 62 2P%.
PREDICTION:
Spread: San Miguel (-12) covers
Over/Under: The total (203.5) hits the Under.