PLAYOFFS OR BUST
CRUCIAL MATCHES MARK END OF PBA PHILIPPINE CUP ELIMS
Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 4:30 p.m. – GlobalPort vs Phoenix 7 p.m. – Ginebra vs Rain or Shine
Barangay Ginebra clashes with Rain or Shine while GlobalPort collides with Phoenix Petroleum in two virtual door-die matches marking the end of the single-round-robin elimination phase of the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.
The Batang Pier and the Fuel Masters tangle at 4:30 p.m. then the Kings and the Elasto Painters mix it up at 7 p.m. in a fitting end to a fierce chase for the three remaining berths in post-elims play.
The Kings (5-5), the Batang Pier (5-5) and the Fuel Masters (4-6) fight to qualify in the playoffs while the Elasto Painters (6-5) seek a berth in the Top Six that means playing in a best-of-three series in the quarterfinals.
Complications abound going into the last play date of the elims with a playoff match set Sunday to determine the eighth and last seed in the quarters.
For Rain or Shine, it’s about claiming an outright berth in the best-of-three quarters. Ginebra, meanwhile, guns for a big win not just to formalize entry into the playoffs but land a good spot inside the Top Six.
“In our mind, this is a do-or-die game. I can’t see us winning a knockout game for an eighth and then beating SMB with a twice-to-beat advantage. Won’t happen, so we have to get this one,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.
“Good news is, despite all our uneven play this conference, we still control our own destiny in terms of finishing in the Top Six. We’ll see if we can put one good game together,” he added.
The Batang Pier and the Fuel Masters are also hard pressed to win.
“It would be hard because of injuries to my players, but the good thing is that I prepared my third group to fill in,” said Phoenix coach Louie Alas.
“I reviewed the previous games of GlobalPort. They’re good in rebounding and in transition plays. They’re tough to beat but it’s doable,” Alas also said.
They fight to survive with key players Justin Chua, LA Revilla and Willy Wilson nursing injuries.
Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia and his troops play a third game in nine days, and they hope they would still have enough energy to endure an expected hard game versus the Kings.
But at least, they would ride the momentum of a 95-80 conquest of the Beermen on Wednesday.
“We’re assured of a playoff spot. But of course, we still want to win to be at No. 4,” said Garcia. “It’s also not good going to the playoffs on a losing note.”