Games today:
(Philsports Arena)
3 p.m. — San Miguel vs Meralco
5:45 p.m. — Rain or Shine vs Magnolia
It’s going to be a dogfight as two teams are out to carry separate missions in the final day of eliminations of the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup today at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Magnolia will seek for a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals when it marches to its 5:45 p.m. encounter with a Rain or Shine squad that is out to formalize its entry in the playoffs of this import-laced tournament.
Prior to that, San Miguel Beer will battle also-ran Meralco in the 3 p.m. encounter in a bid to somehow improve its record and boost its confidence heading into the playoffs.
The elimination round of this midseason conference had come down to its last playing day yet a lot of intricacies could still happen, making the battle between the Hotshots and Elasto Painters very crucial as it could shake up the leaderboard.
A victory by the Hotshots would help them secure the No. 2 seat and a twice-to-beat advantage in the playoffs against No. 7 Phoenix.
But Yeng Guiao and the Elasto Painters also have urgent matters to deal with as they need to wrap up the final day with a victory over the Hotshots to formalize their entry to the quarterfinals.
A Rain or Shine setback, however, would further complicate this scenario as they have to go through a knockout game after forging a tie with NLEX with 5-7 win-loss record.
Outside these two combatants, two other teams are keenly waiting for things to unfold.
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel will be cheering against its sister team — Magnolia — as a Rain or Shine triumph will guarantee it with the No. 2 spot in the next round.
Although multi-titled mentor Tim Cone of Ginebra loves his former players at Magnolia in Rafi Reavis, Mark Barroca and Ian Sangalang, he will definitely root for Rain or Shine for obvious reason.
“It’s difficult to know where we are and who we play yet,” said Cone following their 115-96 bashing of emerging contender Converge last Wednesday.
“We have to wait for the results of the other teams.”
Cone said their fate is no longer in their control.
“It’s already out of our hands,” he said.
“But Coach Yeng has always comes up with great games so we’ll have a chance to cheer for Coach Yeng, probably the only time in my whole life, except when he is with the national time, because he I such a huge rival. We’ll wish him well on Friday.”
NLEX, on the other hand, did its part of staying in contention for a playoff berth after knocking out Meralco via a come-from-behind 92-81 triumph.
Road Warriors coach Frankie Lim isn’t thinking about the outcome of the Magnolia-Rain or Shine tussle and let fate do its course.
“Before our game against Meralco, I was telling my team, ‘I just want to think about this game,’” Lim said.
“Now that we’ve done our part, let’s see what’s going to happen. Rain or Shine will play Magnolia, then Meralco plays San Miguel. So, I’ll leave it all out to them. We’ve already finished our elimination round campaign and will wait and see.”
