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Source: Waylon Galvez, mb.com.ph

-- It will be Alaska Milk’s defense against San Miguel Beer’s offense today when the Aces try to reassert themselves over the Beermen in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup.

The league-leading Aces, carrying a nine-win, one-loss card and one of only two teams to beat San Miguel, face the Beermen in the 7:30 p.m. main game this Wednesday after the 5 o’clock duel between Purefoods and Barako Bull.

“It should be an epic game,” said Alaska coach Tim Cone, whose team remains one of the best in holding down opponents with an average of 85 points per game.

The Giants, meanwhile, are on a three-game winning streak following their 89-81 triumph over the Ginebra Kings last Sunday, a win that gave Purefoods a share of third spot with the Kings and the TNT Texters at 7-4.

“Defense has choked our opponents in our last three games,” said Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio, whose wards allowed their rivals an average of only 74.3 points in their last three games.

“It is the same defensive mindset that we wish to employ against the very dangerous Barako Bull.”

The Energy Boosters, who lost to the Giants in the first round, 77-92, and slogging under the weight of six straight losses, are determined to end the skid and improve on their bid to make the wildcard phase.

But while the first game is deemed to be an exciting one, all eyes will be trained on the SMB-Alaska game.

“They (Beermen) are so talented offensively that we’re going to have to figure out how to make stops defensively to take some of the pressure off our own offense.You don’t want to try to match them shot for shot. Just too difficult,” Cone added.

The Beermen, on the other hand, are one of the top scoring teams, averaging 97.3 points per game.

The offense of SMB revolves around the versatile Arwind Santos, the leading contender for the Best Player of the Conference (BPC), with backing from the likes of Dondon Hontiveros, Lordy Tugade, and Dorian Peña.

In comparison, through 10 games this conference, only one team – Talk ’N Text – was able to surpass the century mark against Alaska (111-106), while San Miguel has scored 100 or more points in six of its 11 games so far.

“We need to mix in some stops here or there if we’re going to win. But we’re certainly ready and excited to go into battle,” said Cone, who will rely on his mainstays led by former two-time MVP Willie Miller, Joe Devance, and LA Tenorio.