Game Saturday
(Ynares Sports Arena, Pasig City)
6 p.m. San Miguel Beer vs AirAsia PH Patriots

The AirAsia Philippine Patriots romped to an 86-58 win over the hapless Bangkok Cobras in the opener last week in a victory that installed them instant title favorites.

The 28-point winning margin was gratifying considering that they worked really hard for it, but  PH Patriots coach Glenn Capacio insists that the team’s true test will come today when they battle the San Miguel Beermen in an All-Filipino showdown in the 3rd AirAsia ASEAN Basketball at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The lone game presented by PG Flex Linoleum is set at 6 p.m. with the Patriots and Beermen clashing for the first time since meeting in the championship of the To Be Number One Basketball Challenge last month in Bangkok, Thailand.

In that tournament, San Miguel downed the Patriots, 84-76, to rule that preseason tourney.

“We’re still adjusting at that time, no stamina on the part of our imports. But this time, they’re all ready,” said Capacio.

In fact, Capacio and the team co-owned by Mikee Romero and Tony Boy Cojuangco is looking for payback – big time.

But it won’t be easy, Capacio stressed.

"We're going to play against a big team," said Capacio. "They have wing men who are bigger than us and they got the advantage size-wise. So we have to prepare hard and we need to bounce back against them after the loss in Thailand."

One thing going for the Patriots is that the Beermen are still reeling from a shock 83-77 overtime defeat to the    Westports Malaysia Dragons in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

Imports Nakiea Miller and Anthony Johnson will lead the Patriots' charge alongside Ardy Larong, Jonathan Fernandez, Al Vergara and Warren Ybanez.

Larong and Fernandez had eight points apiece while Ybañez, the longest tenured Patriot, had nine markers.

Leading San Miguel's charge are import Dalron Johnson and locals Junjun Cabatu, Benedict Fernandez and center June Mar Fajardo with former seven-time PBA Best Import Bobby Parks as coach.