NLEX and San Miguel Beer are in search for a big response after absorbing their first losses of the season when they tangle on the road in the Group B of the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup at the Taguanao Convention Center in Cagayan de Oro City on Saturday, Aug. 31.

Tip-off of the clash is at 6 p.m. with the Beermen and the Road Warriors both aiming to erase the bitter taste of their tough losses after opening the conference with two big wins.

NLEX suffered a huge collapse against a red-hot Rain or Shine, failing to protect a huge 21-point first half lead and ending up getting blown out, 124-105. 

SMB, on the other hand, couldn’t find any answer to the combination of Justin Brownlee and Japeth Aguilar to drop a close 108-102 decision against Barangay Ginebra.

Primed to lead the charge for the respective teams are two of the league’s premiere scoring guards in the Beermen’s CJ Perez and the Road Warriors’ Robert Bolick who are likewise looking to bounce back from a pair of subpar performances.

Perez was virtually a non-factor in the game against the Kings with only 14 points – way below his usual huge scoring nights. Bolick, on the other hand, did finish with 22 points but he failed to take over when Road Warriors import Myke Henry had to ride the bench due to foul trouble.

Speaking of the NLEX import, Henry should also be raring for a huge bounce back after his hot start against Rain or Shine went down the drain. He came out firing in the opening frame with 16 points but was only limited to just seven points the rest of the way.

He will be pitted against SMB import Jordan Adams who proved to be a potent scorer after dropping 50 points in the Beermen’s rout of the Blackwater Bossing but was sorely outplayed by Brownlee after only finishing with 23 points.

The biggest advantage for the Beermen, however, is no doubt their man in the middle in June Mar Fajardo who is coming off 17 points, 17 rebounds. 

Without a legitimate big man who could put a body on the eight-time Most Valuable Player, the Road Warriors are looking at Henry along with guys like Mike Miranda, Jonnel Policarpio and even Enoch Valdez to just try to make him uncomfortable inside the paint.