Hotshots face Elite; B’men target No. 3

Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 4:30 p.m. – Magnolia vs Blackwater 7 p.m. – San Miguel vs Columbian Dyip

Fifth-running Magnolia tries to keep its spot right behind the league leaders while titleholder San Miguel Beer seeks to sustain its rally from a poor 0-3 start as they take on embattled foes in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.

The Hotshots tangle with the Blackwater Elite at 4:30 p.m. then the Beermen clash with the Columbian Dyip squad at 7 p.m.

Magnolia (3-2), San Miguel (2-3) and Columbian (3-4) jockey for position in the middle of the pack while Blackwater fights for survival after having dropped all its first seven assignments in the midseason tourney.

The Hotshots were in the Top Four before losing an overtime battle against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 96-99, on a struggling debut by Magnolia import sub Curtis Kelly.

Not helping the Magnolia cause then was the absence of center/forward Ian Sangalang due to an injured wrist.

Sangalang remains a doubtful starter and so does Christian Standhardinger with San Miguel.

But even with Standhardinger confined on the bench with a sore left knee, the Beermen outlasted the Barangay Ginebra Kings in overtime, 104-97, Sunday.

SMB has gone 1-2 with import Renaldo Balkman in tow, winning its last two outings versus Phoenix Fuel Masters then the Gin Kings.

But at 2-3, the Beermen have a lot of catching up to do if they’re to contend for a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

The Dyip, meanwhile, have fallen from the .500 mark with their shattering losses to Magnolia Pambansang Manok (101-126) and to TNT KaTropa (95-123).

John Fields and his teammates are now tied with the GlobalPort Batang Pier at seventh place at 3-4, barely up on SMB (2-3), NLEX (2-5) and Ginebra (1-5).