The Gems clash with the Nueva Ecija Patriots at 3 p.m. at the Araullo Centrum Gym in Cabanatuan City while the Lakers battle the Davao Eagles at 5:30 p.m. at the Rizal Memorial College Gym in Davao.
Cebuana Lhuillier, built around workhorse Mat Mitchell, is seeking to join Negros at third spot with a win over Nueva Ecija, which is holding on to dear life with a 2-8 slate. The Gems are at fourth with an 8-4 record, a half-game behind the Slashers (9-4 ).
Although the Gems are heavily-favored to repeat over the Patriots following a 96-81 win in their first encounter two weeks back, expect coach Jojo Villa’s boys to give them a scare before a hometown crowd.
Villa said their defense will focus on the power-playing Mitchell, who is almost unstoppable in the shaded area if given enough space to maneuver.
"If we can at least contain, if not stop, Mitchell, we have a strong chance of beating Cebu," said Villa, whose Patriots absorbed a 104-113 loss to the Andok’s San Juan Knights in their last outing.
A loss for the Patriots and a win for the Lakers will automatically ease them from the race to the next round with the fifth and last team battling the No. 4 squad in a knockout match for the last berth in the semifinal round. – Joey Villar