Games today:
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4:30 p.m. — Phoenix vs Converge
6:45 p.m. — Magnolia vs Meralco
Already assured of a quarterfinals berth, Converge tries to go for a win that would push the squad to securing a twice-to-beat advantage when it takes on struggling Phoenix Super LPG in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
A victory by the FiberXers over the struggling Fuel Masters in their 4:30 p.m. encounter will put coach Aldin Ayo and his troops into a tie for second to third places with San Miguel Beer.
More importantly, it will give them the chance to arm themselves with one of the top four berths that bear a twice-to-beat privilege.
The top four teams at the end of the elimination round will have a twice-to-beat advantage against their respective quarterfinals rivals.
In the recent Commissioner’s Cup, Converge was making a deep run for a twice-to-beat, but an unfortunate event happened surrounding its import Quincy Miller, who was benched as part of disciplinary measures for coming in late in practice.
The loss to NorthPort at the latter stretches of the elimination round cost the FiberXers the No.2 spot.
In the previous tournament, only two teams are guaranteed of a twice-to-beat and the FiberXers eventually lost to the more experienced Beermen in their best-of-three quarterfinals tussle.
This time, Converge is locked in to secure that bonus and a victory against a Phoenix squad that is fighting for survival will be a good springboard.
For the Fuel Masters, it’s all about winning and nothing more.
Although they’re coming off a win, the Fuel Masters are tied in eighth to ninth places with Rain or Shine at 2-5, which is not a comfortable place to be in.
Returning swing man Javee Mocon had certainly added firepower to the Fuel Masters and he’ll be utilized more along with young guns Tyler Tio and Encho Serrano as well as hardworking import Du-vaughn Maxwell.
Equally important is the game between Magnolia and Meralco as both teams go for broke.
Both carrying an identical 4-3 slate, the Hotshots and the Bolts part ways in their 6:45 p.m. match.
The Hotshots are riding on the crest of a four-game winning run and appeared to be on a roll, hence rediscovering their role as one of the league’s perennial contenders.
Credit the addition of import Antonio Hester as a major factor to the Hotshots’ success.
Since the burly but shifty import returned to play this time for the Hotshots, the former Terrafirma reinforcement had done nothing but positive things for coach Chito Victolero and his wards.
Hester has averaged 27.5 points on a tournament-best 63.2 percent shooting from the field to go along with 15 boards, 6.3 assists and two steals.
