The San Miguel Beermen are now up 2-0 in the series after thumping the Magnolia Chicken Timplados anew in Game 2 last Sunday, 109-85. Will the Beermen push Magnolia to the brink with another victory this Wednesday? Or, will the Hotshots rise to the challenge and score a win to cut their series deficit down in half?

Catch this game live on Wednesday,  February 7 at 7:30 pm, Manila time.

Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots (0-2)

Projected Starting Five:

• Jio Jalalon
• Paul Lee 
• Tyler Bey
• Abu Tratter
• James Laput

Whatever adjustments Magnolia made in Game 2, it certainly did not do the trick for the team, as the Hotshots suffered a worse loss in that contest than in the series opener. Offensive struggles haunted Magnolia anew in Game 2, with the team shooting 39 percent from the field — again. 

Then there’s Paul Lee still unable to find his rhythm. Lee only has 11 points so far in the series on a pathetic 3/16 shooting from the floor. He is certainly better than that and at some point, the Lethal Weapon is due to break out of his slump. There could be no better time for him to have that breakout in the finals than in Game 3, as Magnolia looks to prevent falling down the proverbial 0-3 death trap. The three balls are not falling either for Magnolia, which has gone just 10/50 from long range in the series, thus far.

San Miguel Beermen (2-0)

Projected Starting Five:

• Chris Ross
• Marcio Lassiter
• CJ Perez
• Bennie Boatwright
• June Mar Fajardo

Two down, two more to go for San Miguel, which is coasting right now. After dominating in each of the first couple of games in the Finals, the Beermen can smell the title. Just like in Game 1, Game 2 saw Bennie Boatwright and CJ Perez lead the way for San Miguel. Boatwright had 34 points and 10 rebounds plus five assists, while Perez scored 20 points along with six rebounds, four assists, and five steals. 

As a team, the Beermen continue to be red-hot, especially from behind the arc. They have knocked down a total of 26 3-pointers in the series, thus far. That has made it near impossible for Magnolia to silence the Beermen’s guns, as the Hotshots are already having headaches containing Junemar Fajardo inside alone. Speaking of the 7-time PBA MVP, Fajardo had a double-double of 19 points and 14 rebounds in Game 2.

PREDICTION:

Spread: The Beermen (-2) cover the spread.

Over/Under: The total (193.5) hits the Over.