It’s the league’s best offense against the league’s stoutest defense this Sunday when the San Miguel Beermen and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters square off at DHVSU Gym in Bacolor. 

Catch this game live on September 12 at 2 pm, Manila time.

The San Miguel Beermen (5-2)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Chris Ross
  • SG: Terrence Romeo
  • SF: Marcio Lassiter
  • PF: Arwind Santos
  • C: Junemar Fajardo

Terrence Romeo continues to sizzle for the Beermen. The former FEU Tamaraw scattered 29 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field in last Friday’s 111-102 win over the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. The Beermen have won both of their last two games and are 5-1 straight-up in their last six contests. The lone blemish on their record during that stretch was the shocking loss to Terrafirma, but that could not hide San Miguel’s incredible since the resumption of the conference. 

Notwithstanding the Beermen’s defeat at the hands of the Dyip, the team has averaged 101.3 points in their last three games. Against Ginebra, San Miguel shot 50% from the floor and went 18-of-41 from behind the arc. There are seven Beermen who are averaging at least 11 points per contest, led by Romeo’s 20.7 PPG. Rain or Shine player are going to need to bring handcuffs to contain San Miguel’s scorers.

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The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (5-4)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Rey Nambatac
  • SG: Jayvee Mocon
  • SF: Gabe Norwood
  • PF: Beau Belga
  • C: Norbert Torres

Rain or Shine finally ended their losing streak by trouncing the Magnolia Hotshots on Friday, 75-72. Javee Mocon caught fire in that game, as he finished with a team-high 19 points, but it was rookie Leonard Santillan, who turned the most heads with his 14 points and five rebounds. The rookie big man will need every ounce of confidence he can get ahead of a meeting with the Beermen where he’ll get a taste of matching up against Junemar Fajardo and Mo Tautuaa. 

But he doesn’t have to ride solo in the frontcourt for the Elasto Painters, with Beau Belga, and Jewel Ponferada. Although the Beermen has been on fire defensively, they could get slowed down by Rain or Shine’s defense that’s been the best so far in the conference. The Elasto Painters are allowing just 75.4 PPG. San Miguel’s erratic ways on offense could even make life easier for Rain or Shine, as the Beermen own a league-worst 17.37 TO%.

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PREDICTION:

Spread: Rain or Shine has been a tough customer for the Beermen over their last few meetings. In fact, the Elasto Painters are 3-1 in their last four games against San Miguel. Take ROS to cover the +6 spread.

Over/Under: The Elasto Painters will not win this game fighting fire with fire. Look for them to play the same way they did in the low-scoring Magnolia game. Take the Under 167.