Purefoods, SMB go for quarterfinal seat

Two teams seek to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals while two others, which have secured a quarters seat, press their bids for the twice-to-beat edge as the PBA Governors Cup elimination round enters its crucial stage with an explosive twinbill at the Philsports Arena today.

San Miguel and Purefoods take a shot at an outright quarters spot at each other’s expense even as erstwhile leader Mobiline once again attempts to book a place in the Magic Four versus a team now hot on its trail in Tanduay.

The Beermen and the Hotdogs clash at 5:15 p.m., then the Phone Pals and the Rhum Masters collide at 7:30.

The Phone Pals bungled their first shot at nailing a twice-to-beat incentive Sunday as they saw the end of their amazing streak with the team bowing to the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 76-92.

However, Mobiline, with a 5-2 win-loss mark, remains in the Top Four, needing only one more win to gain the crucial advantage in the quarters.

Tanduay, meanwhile, has found itself breathing down Mobiline’s at third place as the undermanned Rhum Masters pulled off big surprises, stringing up four straight wins following back-to-back losses.

The question is whether the Rhum Masters can sustain their winning ways while going up against a tall and agile team in the Phone Pals. Tanduay, which has been winning largely behind its run-and-gun game, is coming off a long 14-day layoff.