DESPITE having only seven men to play in the face of injuries to key players Allan Caidic, Samboy Lim, Bong Alvarez, and Dong Polistico among others, San Miguel Beer coach Ron Jacobs has won the admiration of PBA coaches for his team's performance so far.

Even former national coach Joe Lipa who succeeded Jacobs in 1986 as the coach of the national team told The Manila Times that Jacobs was "doing many of the things he was doing years ago but he continues to do them better and execute with near perfection on both offense and defense."

Chot Reyes who handled the champion team of Purefoods but is now head coach of Sta. Lucia Realty paid tribute to Jacobs after the Realtors scored a pulsating one point victory over the Beermen Tuesday. Reyes said San Miguel Beer "is the best coached team" in the PBA and there was still a lot to learn from Jacobs.

To Jacobs, the "kind words mean a great deal" but the bottom line is his team is 1-2 in the win-loss column when it might easily have been 3-0. San Miguel lost a heartbreaker to Gordon's Gin Sunday on a miraculous three-pointer by Bal David with no time remaining and then they dropped another one point game to Sta. Lucia Tuesday.

Jacobs worked only six players at practice yesterday because of the fatigue factor and his woes mounted with the news that Caidic had recurring pains during practice and will be out for another month. In addition, both Lim and Alvarez will undergo surgery today.

Lim continues to suffer pain and irritation in his knee because, according to Jacobs, "it's bone on bone" and he'll be out for "a couple of weeks."

As for Alvarez, doctors will look at his knees "to see how it's healing" after surgery some months back.

Jacobs said he will "just have to bite the bullet" and hope his players can continue to hang tough. -RONNIE NATHANIELSZ

February 26,1997
Mobiline outlasts Shell in overtime.

Jawo Jr. gets all the breaks.

February 25,1997
Mobiline vs Shell today.

PBA freezes Feihl.

February 24,1997
Rookie lifts Mobiline past PureFoods.

Buzzer-beating trey lifts Gordon's Gin.

February 22,1997
Jacobs steers San Mig to a big 70-66 victory.

February 21,1997
Sta. Lucia guns for win No.2; Jacobs debuts with San Miguel.

February 20,1997
BCAP to pursue fight vs. Jacobs.

February 19,1997
Sta. Lucia posts 'ugly win' over Pop Cola.

Decimated Gordon's Gin drops Shell, 88-81.

Angry Ginebra finally drops bid to re-sign Feihl.