DUE TO CROWDED LEADERBOARD Message to Texters: Must win TNT coach Nash Racela could feel a sense of urgency going over the teams in strong contention for the semifinals and readily admitted that the Texters would be in to difficult times unless they star

Games today (MOA Arena) 4:30 p.m. – TNT KaTropa vs Phoenix 7 p.m. – Kia vs Ginebra

“Every game is important at this stage of the conference. We need to get wins to have a favorable position in the playoffs,” said Racela.

The Texters try to stay right behind the frontrunners as they face the Phoenix Fuel Masters at 4:30 p.m. while the Ginebra Gin Kings and the Kia Picanto collide at 7 p.m. all raring to step up in their respective bids.

In winning their last game against the Picanto (90-85), the Texters now share fourth spot with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at 4-3, two full games behind the pacesetting San Miguel Beermen (6-1) and a game and a half adrift the Alaska Milk Aces and the Magnolia Hotshots, toting identical 6-2 slates.

The Gin Kings and the Fuel Masters are both in a precarious spot at joint sixth with the GlobalPort Batang Pier and the NLEX Road Warriors at 3-4.

Each of them hopes to be at least in the Top Six or in the middle spots in the playoffs to figure in a pair of best-of-three quarterfinals. The seventh-ranked and No. 8 teams in the playoffs will need two wins in a row to make the semifinals.

Phoenix coach Louie Alas said they have a job cut out for them coming off a bad loss to Alaska Milk (75-93) then facing a tough team in TNT KaTropa.

“We haven’t beaten that team. And it’s hard to beat TNT in a shootout. They’re super explosive and very talented,” said Alas. “We need to play our A-game especially on the defensive end.”

Racela, on the other hand, is focused on neutralizing Phoenix’s gunners and in breaking the Fuel Masters’ pressing defense.

The Kings, meanwhile, hope to finally find consistency in their game to boost their playoff drive.

They blew a double-digit deficit on a fourth-quarter meltdown in their 78-81 loss to the NLEX Road Warriors Saturday that once again pushed them out of the Top Five.

In a far more volatile situation is Kia at 1-6. The Picanto must start winning now if they’re to clinch a spot in the Final Eight.

After finally breaking into the win-column with a 98-94 win over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, the Picanto reeled with back-to-back losses to Meralco (76-105) and to TNT KaTropa (85-90).

But at least the Picanto proved competitive the last time out against the Texters.