Pals, Hotdogs eye Final 4

Two ballclubs have fallen by the wayside, but the plot thickens and the storyline deepens as the surviving teams in the PBA Governors Cup advance into the playoff phase of the season-ending tournament.

It’s the quarterfinals and, again, four teams face "one-miss-and-die" situation with the other four needing to win only once in their respective matchups to reach the next round.

Mobiline and Purefoods take their first crack at a slot in the semifinals as they play Barangay Ginebra and Alaska Milk, respectively, at the start of the playoffs at the Philsports Arena today.

On Friday also in the Pasig venue, it’s Red Bull’s and Tanduay’s turn to take a shot at the Final Four, with the Thunder going up against the Sta. Lucia Realtors and the Rhum Masters battling the San Miguel Beermen.

All four matchups have interesting subplots.

For one, Mobiline has found itself ranged against Ginebra, giving it the chance to erase the stigma of the most bitter defeat in franchise history.

With Asi Taulava in the forefront of their campaign, the Phone Pals topped the All-Filipino eliminations last year only to be eased out by the eighth ranked Gin Kings right in the quarterfinals.

The Purefoods-Alaska tiff is a duel of old rivals.

The two teams have figured in title showdowns and have clashed in four playoffs in the last five conferences. For the record, Alaska ousted Purefoods in all occasions.

Tanduay and San Miguel have had their history of rivalry. In fact, the two teams are clashing in the playoffs for the third time in the last five conferences.

Red Bull is making its first appearance in the playoffs but may well find the odds on its side versus Sta. Lucia with the Thunder coming off an impressive stint in the eliminations. Sta. Lucia narrowly avoided figuring in a sudden-death for the last quarters slot as the Realtors toppled the Pop Cola Panthers, 105-86, Sunday.

Realizing the shortage of public transportation at the Philsports Arena vicinity, the PBA announced it will provide free bus rides to its fans going from the Pasig venue for the remainder of the Governors Cup.

Fans only need to show their tickets to avail themselves of the bus ride, which will ply a loop that will exit at Meralco avenue, turn right to Lourdes behind Megamall, right again to Julia Vargas before taking another right at Meralco ave.

The buses will wait for the fans after the second game at the Philsports Arena entrance along Sgt. Javier road.