OPPOSITE POLES meet in the San Mig Coffee 2005 PBA Fiesta Conference today as the pacesetting Purefoods Chunkee Giants take on the San Miguel Beermen at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Although the Beermen are down at the bottom of the standings, they are definitely not out of the Giants’ league.
The defending champs are back in business after a string of three victories. Apparently, they’re back to their old system as well.
Beermen coach Jong Uichico admitted he has put some changes in their plays to give his gunners more freedom to shoot.
But after nine games and eight losses, Uichico found out he shouldn’t have fixed an unbroken system.
"We’re slowly getting back to our old system," he said. "Obviously the new system isn’t working for us."
The old system gives the talented big men of the Beermen more significant roles in their offense.
Danny Ildefonso and Dorian Pena now get more touches of the leather down low to start their set plays.
The Giants’ system is less complicated. Give the ball to James Yap in the perimeter, Kerby Raymundo in the shaded lane or import Marquin Chandler anywhere else.
In the other game, the Talk ‘N Text Phone Pals try to enhance their chances of earning an outright semifinal spot when they face the Coca-Cola Tigers.
The Phone Pals pulled off one of the most amazing comebacks in the league in their first round win over the Tigers as they rallied from 26-point third quarter deficit to win by one in regulation.
