TNT, GlobaPort to keep top 2 hopes alive

TNT KaTropa and GlobalPort fight for a piece of second place with Phoenix Petroleum while Blackwater and Star clash in an equally important game with both pressing their own playoff aspirations in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome tonight.

The Hotshots and the Elite square off at 4:15 p.m. then the Texters and the Batang Pier face off at 7 p.m. in a crucial double-header featuring four teams contending for the six remaining spots in the post-elims play.

TNT and GlobalPort are tied with Alaska Milk and Rain or Shine at third place at 5-4, Blackwater, together with Barangay Ginebra, is half-game behind at 5-5 while Star is at ninth place at 4-4. The seven teams are closely bunched together in the middle of the chart with 10 games left in the eliminations.

"We must win to stay in the hunt for the playoffs. We are in the same scenario with TNT, and we expect an aggressive game from the start. We need to slow them down," said GlobalPort coach Franz Pumaren.

Actually, the winner in the TNT-GlobalPort setto virtually claim a playoff berth with a shot at a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals. Thus, the Texters and the Batang Pier are likely to figure in an all-out battle.

TNT coach Nash Racela expressed hopes they're headed in the right direction following his troops' solid showing in their 104-92 drubbing of the Mahindra Floodbuster on January 18.

"I'm not so much satisfied with the game but on the effort of the players to find a way to deliver a positive outcome," said Racela.

GlobalPort, meanwhile, is looking to bounce back from a 100-106 loss to San Miguel Beer where Terrence Romeo, the tournament scoring leader, was made to bleed for his points by the tough SMB defense.

And it became a lot tougher for the Batang Pier with Arwind Santos scoring a four-year personal high of 31 points and complementing well June Mar Fajardo's yet another double-double game.

The Hotshots and the Elite are also bracing for a battle."We're considering our last three games (in the elims) as playoff games already. We need to surpass or match the intensity and aggressiveness of Blackwater. We need to win to enhance our playoff chance," said Star coach Chito Victolero.

The Hotshots play three games in the last five play dates of the elims. They take on the Meralco Bolts at the Philsports Arena on Saturday then the Mahindra Floodbuster next Wednesday.

Blackwater, meanwhile, closes out its elims stint versus Star. The Elite must win to avoid possible tie at eighth spot.

The Texters and the Batang Pier clash in a matchup with an exciting side showdown between Gilas ace guards Jason Castro and Romeo.

The Romeo-Stanley Pringle pair may have the edge over Castro and Ryan Reyes. Then there's veteran point guard Mike Cortez who is likely to be pitted with Kris Rosales. Aaron Aban will surely be highly motivated taking on his former team.

The ex-Letran Knight has been playing key role with GlobalPort.The Texters, however, may have the advantage in the frontcourt with Ranidel de Ocampo, Kelly Williams, Troy Rosario and Moala Tautuaa pitted against Billy Mamaril, JR Quinahan, Papot Paredes and Mick Pennisi.

Philippine STAR News Service

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