TNT, Phoenix figure in KO match
An eighth seed has prevailed over the top seed in PBA playoffs, and either TNT KaTropa or Phoenix Petroleum would try to draw strength from that fact.
But first, the Texters and the Fuel Masters put their lives at stake once again.
The two teams face off in a lone Sunday match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, disputing in a knockout match the eighth and last berth in the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals.
Waiting for the winner of this match is reigning allFilipino three-peat champ San Miguel Beer with its twice-tobeat incentive as playoffs top seed.
Governors Cup titlist Barangay Ginebra endured a triple-overtime grind versus Rain or Shine Friday night to avoid that matchup.
"I can't see us winning a knockout game for eighth and then beating SMB with a twice-to-beat advantage," said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.
But with no other recourse, the Texters and the Fuel Masters are facing the challenge head on.
A hard struggle in the entire tourney put them in this tough position.
"We've been struggling this conference. It's no secret; everybody's talking about that. We just hope that our execution will be better (today)," said TNT coach Nash Racela.
"We don't know how to finish a game. We figured in a lot of games decided at endgame. If we know how to finish a game, we're not in the situation where we are now," said Phoenix coach Louie Alas, hoping though that they've learned from their previous games.
One close endgame battle where the Fuel Masters pulled through was against the Texters, 74-72, last February 7.
Matthew Wright celebrated his 27th birthday by winning that game for Phoenix on a game-tying trey then a winning feed to Doug Kramer.
Wright was again the man of the hour for the Fuel Masters in their 104-100 win over the GlobalPort Batang Pier Friday where he erupted for 32 points.
Their immediate goal now is to repeat versus the Texters to make the post-elims play in their first conference under Alas.
The Texters, for their part, are out to keep their consistent playoff passage under Racela. Last season, the Texters made it all the way to the finals in one conference and the semis in the two other conferences.