B-Meg to tinker with game plan

After an 83-82 squeaker against powerhouse San Miguel Beer on Sunday night, it is clear a lot has to be done to clear B-Meg’s path for at least an automatic quarterfinal seat.

Despite a forgettable game from import Cliff Brown, the Llamados managed to contain the talented Beermen, thanks to James Yap’s game winner and the team’s vaunted defense.

“We challenged ourselves to beat a team that is over .500. We made the necessary stops in the end and Big Game James [Yap] hit that big shot,” said Llamados coach Ryan Gregorio, whose team now occupies solo third spot with a 9-5 win-loss mark.

“But there are still a slot of aspects of our game we need to improve on, like limit our turnovers and shoot better, if we want to advance to the next level,” he added.

The team also needs to draw more from Brown, who scored only 11 points on four-for-17 shooting in a foul-plagued 40 minutes.

Brown fouled out with 5:34 left in the fourth period with San Miguel leading, 76-71. Gregorio said the team is still carefully studying all the options.

“We have a very short time from today to our next game,” said Gregorio, as he shunned answering directly a question if he would change Brown at this critical stage of the conference.

“Honestly, I don’t have names now. He [Brown] shot four-of-17. Definitely we need a lot of help from our import, especially with the absence of Kerby [Ryamundo],” he added.

Brown did grab 13 rebounds and issue five assists but because of his fouls and poor shooting, Derby Ace relied solely on the locals to escape with the victory.

At 9-5, the Llamados are now just two games behind San Miguel (11-3) and three from league-leading Talk ’N Text (12-2) in the race for the two automatic semifinal seats.

“Habang may buhay, may pag-asa,” said Gregorio. “We are just two behind San Miguel with a lot of games left. It’s time to step on the gas.”

Derby Ace has Rain or Shine, the Tropang Texters, Barangay Ginebra and Barako Coffee in its schedule in the double-round classification phase where the top two teams advance outright to the semifinals and the next three booking automatic quarterfinal berths.

Asi to Ginebra?

Another major trade is reportedly being worked out by four teams with Asi Taulava finding himself donning a Ginebra jersey.

But Coke team manager JB Baylon and Ginebra head coach Jong Uichico denied there is such a deal.

Tigers head coach Bo Perasol said that as of now, the team is open to trades. “If ever we trade Asi, we want a big man also in return like Dorian Peña or Enrico Villanueva,” he said. Kings forward JC Intal is also said to be part of the multiplayer transaction.