Mobiline guns for an outright entry into the quarterfinals while Barangay Ginebra seeks a playoff as the two teams clash in a crucial tiff at the close of the Alaxan PBA All-Filipino Cup eliminations at the Philsports Arena today.
Game time is at 7:30 p.m. with Shell Velocity hoping for a Mobiline win to avoid a sudden-death match with Ginebra.
Complications actually abound in the final playdate of the elims which also features Alaska Milk and Pop Cola in the 5:15 p.m. curtain-raiser. The Phone Pals, however, can simplify matters by delivering the killer blow on the Gin Kings.
And this is something Mobiline coach Louie Alas promised to do moments after his team demolished Shell, 79-47, Wednesday.
"Lamang na siguro kami kung magtabla-tabla kami ng Shell at Ginebra because of our 32-point win over Shell. But just to be sure, we'll try our best to beat Ginebra," said Alas.
Mobiline will even gain the No. 5 seeding in the quarterfinals if it beats Ginebra and Pop Cola loses to Alaska.
"Actually, I think all the teams in the Magic Four are tough to beat. Each one enjoys a twice-to-beat edge in the quarters. Pero mas maganda ng pumasok sa quarters na galing sa panalo," said Alas.
With a 4-9 win-loss record, Ginebra has no choice but to beat Mobiline or get an early exit in the season-opening tournament.
A Ginebra win forces a three-way tie among the Gin Kings, the Phone Pals and the Zoom Masters at seventh place. The La Tondeña franchise gains outright entry in the quarters and leaves Mobiline and Shell to dispute the last quarters slot only in case it wins by 17 points or more.
The Phone Pals, however, are optimistic they will play the executioner's role on the Gin Kings even without Asi Taulava.
Alas said Taulava is still working out with the team although he is set to leave the country next week to gather new evidence which he can use in filing an appeal on his deportation case by the Bureau of Immigration.