Games today:
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4 p.m. — Blackwater vs NorthPort
8 p.m. — Rain or Shine vs TNT
The race for remaining quarterfinals spots heats up as Rain or Shine, TNT Tropang Giga and NorthPort vie in crucial encounters in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Elasto Painters and the Tropang Giga collide at 8 p.m. with the winner booking a seat in the quarterfinals of the season-opening conference.
Safely in are Magnolia, which clinched the twice-to-beat incentive after winning nine of its first 10 matches in the eliminations, as well as Phoenix Super LPG, Meralco, San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra.
NorthPort, meanwhile, will also shoot for a slot in the quarterfinals when it battles also-ran Blackwater in the first game at 4 p.m.
After dropping their first five games, the Elasto Painters were on fire, winning four straight matches to stay in playoff contention.
Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said they are determined to come up with an emphatic victory over the injury-riddled Tropang Giga, not just to formalize their entry to the next round, but also to avoid possible complications in case there’s a multiple-team tie for the eighth spot.
“We want to avoid complications,” said Guiao, whose boys spent majority of their holiday break preparing for this all-important encounter against a struggling, but dangerous, Tropang Giga squad.
“If ever we win over TNT, we’re at least guaranteed of a spot in the quarterfinals regardless of what happens in the coming games.”
One of the reasons behind the Painters’ massive recovery from a woeful start was the entry of import Tree Treadwell in lieu of DaJuan Summers.
Not known to be a heavy scorer, the well-built journeyman provided the things needed by the Elasto Painters — a solid anchor on the defensive end and a great rebounder — that Summers failed to provide.
In five games, Treadwell, averaged only 18.2 points, but he led the tournament in rebounding with 17.2 rebounds per game.
More importantly, Treadwell made his teammates look good as the Elasto Painters finally came up with a balance scoring production.
Andrei Caracut has stepped up, serving not just as the chief playmaker but main offensive weapon as well with a team-high 15.6 points per game while rookie big man Keith Datu and Adrian Nocum provided the spark and youthful energy to Rain or Shine.
Datu averaged 13.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and a solid two blocks per game while Nocum, who was picked 24th overall in the recent Rookie Draft, came off the bench and produced 8.4 points per contest.
Leonard Santillan, a third year forward, has also raised his level of game with 12.89 points and close to five rebounds per game while Jhonard Clarito has been a revelation this conference, averaging nearly nine points per outing while doing a little bit of everything.
But clinching a spot in the next round will not be easy.
TNT’s prolific import in Rondae Hollis-Jefferson may not be around after suffering a neck injury but his older brother, Rahlir, will be seeing action to provide offensive muscles.
Adjustment will not be a problem as Rahlir, who played four years for the Temple Owls in the US National Collegiate Athletic Association, suited up for the Tropang Giga when they battle the Fubon Braves in the East Asia Super League last month.
He was supposed to see action against Ginebra on Christmas Day but he sat out after failing to complete his playing requirements.
