DEFENDING champion San Miguel Beer tries to sustain its perfect winning run to begin the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup when the Beermen tangle with the Terrafirma Dyip today, April 10, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Beermen zoomed to a 4-0 start for the conference and will look to keep their hot start going against the Dyip (4-3) at 4:30 p.m.

NorthPort, currently running at third spot with its 4-1 card, also tries to stretch its winning run to five when it tangles with Magnolia (1-2) at 7:30 p.m.

The Beermen have been running roughshod of their opponents this conference, which just last week, include a 95-92 win over the Barangay Ginebra Kings.

SMB faces a Terrafirma side, whose confidence is also on a high after the Dyip shocked the Gin Kings last Sunday, 91-85.

Terrafirma beat Ginebra for just the second time in the 23 matches both teams have played since the franchise entered the league in 2015.

But with four victories in seven starts, the playoff spot is within arm's length.

Cardel however, doesn't want his wards to be complacent.

"Four wins, that's not enough for us to get to the quarterfinals, and then we have a big game coming up this Wednesday against San Miguel. It's a game we need to win, but then it's everybody's ball game," shared Cardel.

Terrafirma though will have a big mountain to climb against San Miguel, which will again have seven-time league Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo leading the way.

The Beermen's stacked-up roster also has Don Trollano, Marcio Lassiter, Jericho Cruz, Chris Ross and Terrence Romeo.

Meanwhile, the Batang Pier have been the hottest squad lately, thanks to their youth brigade that includes vastly improved Arvin Tolentino, Will Navarro, JM Calma, Joshua Munzon and rookie Zav Lucero.

Magnolia has lost its last two games since opening the conference with a 31-point spanking of Converge.

Veteran forward Calvin Abueva will be back after serving a one-game suspension.