Wild finish looms in last 2 play dates

Games tomorrow (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 4:15 p.m. – Star vs Mahindra; 7 p.m. – Ginebra vs Meralco

Games Friday (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 4:15 p.m. – NLEX vs Alaska; 7 p.m. – Tropang TNT vs San Miguel

Four virtual playoff matches make up the last two play dates of the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup elimination round – slam-bang duels that will decide the second team earning a twice-tobeat incentive in the quarterfinals and the team that will complete the Final Eight cast.

As Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao rightly put it, the team standings are still “messy” with only the Meralco Bolts and the Elasto Painters assured of their spots in the playoffs. The Bolts have secured a coveted advantage in the quarters while the E-Painters have sealed a berth in the best-of-three quarters.

The penultimate playdate tomorrow will determine the fates of the Star Hotshots, the Mahindra Enforcers and the Barangay Ginebra Kings.

The Hotshots (4-6) and the Enforcers (4-6) clash in an all-important showdown at 4:15 p.m. disputing the last quarterfinal slot.

The Gin Kings (6-4), meanwhile, take a shot at a Top Six windup in tangling with the Bolts at 7 p.m.

On Friday, Alaska (6-4) and NLEX (5-5) fight for a spot in the Magic Six while San Miguel (7-3) and Tropang TNT (6-4) face off for a Top Two finish.

The Beermen will clinch No. 2 with a victory over the Texters.

“That’s a big game that’s why we’ve been preparing for that since last week,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.

A loss by San Miguel will create a heavy logjam at second place. In such a case, the two teams with the highest quotient clash in a playoff to decide the No. 2 seeding.

Guiao has conceded a Top Six finish, and he’s satisfied with that. “At least, we’ve avoided a matchup with a team with a twice-to-beat advantage,” he said.

Teams still pushing for a Top Six berth are Alaska, Ginebra, Tropang TNT and NLEX.

Playoff format calls for the top two seeds to square off with No. 7 and No. 8, needing to win once to advance to the semifinals. The third, fourth, fifth and sixth seeds, meanwhile, figure in best-of-three showdowns.

The Elasto Painters, perennial title contenders at least in the last three years, are gambling on new import Pierre Henderson-Niles in the postelims play.

“The potential is there. His upside is good. He’s a solid player,” said Guiao.