Fuel Masters, Aces face off for No. 2
Games today (Cuneta Astrodome) 4:15 p.m. – Mahindra vs NLEX 7 p.m. – Phoenix vs Alaska
Surging Phoenix Petroleum and consistent contender Alaska Milk clash tonight at the Cuneta Astrodome in a virtual knockout setto in the fight for No. 2 spot in the PBA Philippine Cup elimination round.
Mahindra and NLEX tangle in a non-bearing tussle at 4:15 p.m. before the Fuel Masters and the Aces face off at 7 p.m. in one of the most crucial games in the last four playdates of the single-round-robin elims.
The Fuel Masters go for a 7- 4 win- loss closing mark while the Aces’ immediate goal is to book a quarterfinals entry at 6-4.
San Miguel Beer has claimed elims top honors with a 9-1 slate, leaving Phoenix (6-4), TNT KaTropa ( 6- 4), Alaska (5-4), Rain or Shine (5-4) and Star (5-4) in a cutthroat fight for the No. 2 slot.
Barangay Ginebra (5-5), GlobalPort (5-5) and Blackwater (56) are the other teams remaining in contention for the post-elims play but not for the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds and the crucial twice-to-beat advantage in the quarters.
The Fuel Masters, the Texters, the Aces, the E-Painters and the Hotshots are now all in must-win situations in their spirited battle for No. 2.
Complications abound especially as all kind of deadlocks at No. 2 will be resolved via quotient system. Tournament rules call for a knockout game only in a tie for No. 8.
The Fuel Masters are on a hot charge, winning four of their last five games to be at joint second with the Texters. Still, Phoenix is in a precarious spot, having dropped their matches against the Hotshots, the Texters and the E-Painters – teams that they may end up tied with.
Nonetheless, Phoenix coach Ariel Vanguardia vows his team will go all out to keep a winning momentum going into the playoff round.