Star, Alaska in key duel
Hotshots hoping things go their way as they step up drive for top-2 berth
@musongINQ
With its outright place in the top two PBA Commissioner’s Cup not resting entirely in its hands, Star tries to do what it can on the floor on Wednesday before hoping that the results in the final two elimination round playdates favor the Hotshots in their twice-to-beat drive.
Star takes on Alaska at 7 p.m. at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay, and the Hotshots need a win that would also put the Aces’ playoff chances in jeopardy.
San Miguel Beer, meanwhile, also steps up its top two chase when it collides with Blackwater at 4:15 p.m.
The Hotshots are currently tied for the lead with idle Barangay Ginebra at 8-2, but even a win against the Aces will not guarantee them an outright quarterfinal bonus.
Star could eventually be dragged into a playoff for the second privilege if the Gin Kings and the Beermen sweep their remaining assignments.
That is because both San Miguel and Ginebra can end up with 9-2 records, and when the tiebreaker is applied, the Hotshots are in a deep predicament since their two losses came from the Beermen and the Gin Kings.
The only way for Star to make it outright is for the Hot- shots to beat Alaska and hope that Ginebra or San Miguel—or both—drop one game in closing out the round.
But that seems highly unlikely since San Miguel and Ginebra are playing great at the moment and the Beermen are closing out against the lightweight Elite and GlobalPort on Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Gin Kings, meanwhile, have back-to-the-wall Mahindra as their final foe also on Friday as they put a three-game winning streak on the line.
The game is as important to Alaska as it is to Star as the Aces welcome Calvin Abueva back to active duty in a bid to snap a sixgame losing streak.
A win by Alaska would most likely put the Aces in the middle of the pack—and in a best-ofthree series. A loss puts the Aces in danger of needing to win three straight knockout matches to make it to the Final Four.