PLAYOFF FEVER

Chase for four berths heats up

GlobalPort and Phoenix Petroleum seek to keep spots in the top eight while Blackwater fights for survival in a crucial doubleheader touching off the final 10 days of the PBA Philippine Cup elimination round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.

The Batang Pier tangle with the ousted Kia Picanto at 4:30 p.m. then the Elite and the Fuel Masters slug it out at 7 p.m. in a twinbill featuring three teams in a mad scramble with four other ball clubs for the four remaining berths in post-elims play.

San Miguel Beer (7-2), Magnolia (7-3), Alaska Milk (6-4) and NLEX (6-4) are assured of playoff entry while Rain or Shine (5-3), Barangay Ginebra (5-5), GlobalPort (4-5), Phoenix (4-5), Blackwater (4-6), TNT KaTropa (4-6) and Meralco (4-6) dispute the four remaining playoff spots. Kia is out with a 1-8 slate.

The Batang Pier and the Fuel Masters dropped their last outing versus Hotshots and the Bolts, respectively, and slid to joint seventh.

Coaches Pido Jarencio and Louie Alas, however, are hopeful they would hurdle their remaining games and salvage playoff berths.

“The good thing is that our fate is still in our hands. We win our last two games and we’ll advance without any complication,” said Alas.

After tonight’s games, GlobalPort and Phoenix collide on the last day of the elims on March 2.

The Batang Pier are fancied to win against the Picanto but the Fuel Masters could well be up for a tough battle with the Elite.