Games Wednesday (Astrodome, Pasay City)
5 p.m. — Alaska vs Talk ’N Text
7:30 p.m. —San Miguel vs B-Meg Derby Ace

Defending champion San Miguel Beer and Alaska try to move closer from reaching the Finals as they both shoot for a crucial win in Game 4 of their respective semifinal playoffs with B-Meg Derby Ace and Talk ’N Text, respectively, this Wednesday at the Astrodome in Pasay City.

The Beermen face the Llamados in the main game at 7:30 p.m., right after the Aces clash against the Tropang Texters in the curtain raiser at 5 p.m.

San Miguel and Alaska took 2-1 leads in their best-of-seven series with contrasting wins in Game 3 last Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum with the former scoring a come-from-behind 74-70 win over B-Meg, while the latter edged TNT, 90-86.

Alaska coach Tim Cone said that their Game 3 win was a huge one but he’s not discounting the possibility of a big comeback by the Tropang Texters who are solid in almost all positions.

“Anyway you cut it, it’s a talented team,” Cone said of TNT’s powerhouse cast led by Kelly Williams, Jimmy Alapag and Mark Cardona. “I don’t want to put pressure on (TNT coach) Chot Reyes, but eight of their players can really start in any team in the league.”

“I thought it was crucial for us to win Game 3,” he said.

A rest of two days, Cone added, would surely revitalize the team.

“It’s the key. We’ll play them now on even terms in Game 4. That’ll give us a little push, we’ll be energized to go up against this powerhouse team,” he added.

Reyes pointed to Alaska import Diamon Simpson’s brilliant all-around performance in Game 3 where he scored 31 points and grabbed 20 rebounds, totally outclassing his counterpart Shawn Daniels.

While the wide-bodied Daniels is not a known scorer, contributing just four points in Game 3 with nine rebounds, Reyes expects him to at least limit the scoring of the 22-year-old Simpson in Game 4.

If Daniels could do it, Reyes believes they have pretty good chances of levelling their best-of-seven series.

Reyes also said that they have to limit their fouls after committing 28 which led to Alaska’s 31-of-34 shooting from the stripe.

“We lost Game 3 because Simpson thoroughly dominated Daniels and they took 34 free throws to our 13,” Reyes said. “If we’re able to solve at least one of these, then we’ll have a chance.”

B-Meg Derby Ace is also eager to bounce back but injury woes to key players – Kerby Raymund and Marc Pingris – may derail their bid. Raymundo missed Game 3 with a hurting knee while Pingris is nursing a knee injury although he played for 32 minutes the last time.