Three teams step up playoff drive

Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 4:15 p.m. – Alaska vs NLEX 7 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Barako Bull

Alaska Milk, Rain or Shine and NLEX, three teams already on the threshold of post-elims play, continue to jockey for position atop the heap as they figure in a crucial double-header in the Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight. The Aces tangle with the Road Warriors at 4:15 p.m. while the Elasto Painters take on the Barako Bull Energy at 7 p.m. in a twinbill featuring three teams in contention for the Top Two, which gain outright entry into the semifinals.

With a 5-1 win-loss card, Alaska needs only one more win to formalize its entry into the playoffs.

Rain or Shine is at 4-1 behind co-leaders Alaska Milk and San Miguel Beer with NLEX and Talk n Text coming next at 4-2.

Barako Bull, meanwhile, has some catching up to do after falling to 3-3 on two losses in its last three games.

With San Miguel Beer barely escaping past Barako Bull on a last-second heroic of Arwind Santos, Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao is wary of Barako.

“They have a really tough set of guards. They have improved a great deal from last year,” said Guiao.

“Our challenge is to extend out on their shooters without getting beaten off the dribble. We also need our bigs to keep playing well as a group,” Guiao also said.

Guiao considers the Energy as a big threat with their even 3-3 record with victories over Mahindra (93-85), Barangay Ginebra (82-79) and Meralco (108-106).

They should have been at 4-2 if not for the lucky break San Miguel enjoyed in the closing seconds of their 106-105 squeaker Sunday at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo. But Rain or Shine is definitely the odds-on pick. “We’re going up against a stacked deck. They are the No. 1 offensive team. They are No. 1 in three-point shooting percentage and anybody can penetrate to the basket,” said Barako coach Koy Banal of ROS.