Kahit win-once lang sa quarterfinals ng PBA Governors Cup, ayaw magpapetik-petik ng San Miguel Beer dahil alam ni coach Leo Austria na palaban din ang NLEX.

Tinapos ang eliminations sa No. 2, twice-to-beat ang Beermen laban sa seventh-ranked Road Warriors.

“We cannot afford to relax against a dangerous team like NLEX,” giit ni Austria.

Sa tanging pagkikita sa elims noong July 22, nalusaw ang 17-point lead ng Beermen bago iniligtas ng buzzer-beating 3 ni Marcio Lassiter, 94-93.

All-out din ang NLEX para makahatak ng decider, inihanda ni coach Boyet Fernandez ang kanyang Road Warriors para pigilin ang main men ng SMB.

“We just have to limit­ (June Mar) Fajardo, ­(Elijah) Millsap, (Arwind) Santos, (Alex) Cabagnot and Lassiter on their points by playing solid individual and team ­defense,” diin ni Fernandez.

Pinagpo-focus din ni Austria ang kanyang Beermen sa depensa, lalo kay Henry Walker na nag-a-average ng 31 points at halos 11 rebounds bawat laro. Nang magtapos sa elims ay tumabo ng 33 points ang import.

“We expect Walker to do the most damage against us at pinaghandaan namin siya accordingly,” wika ni Austria. “But we must also never neglect the likes of Jona­s Villanueva, Garvo Lanete, Kevin Alas, Sean ­Anthony and of course Asi (Taulava).”