Four teams seek finals in do-or-die duels today

What has started as a war of attrition on two fronts in the Samsung PBA Governors Cup Final Four ends in a pair of sudden-death matches today, promising a midsummer night of cage mayhem at the Philsports Arena.

It’s Coca-Cola versus Purefoods at 6 p.m. and Alaska Milk and San Miguel Beer at 8 p.m.

Both best-of-five playoffs have gone the full route. Thus, after tonight’s games, two teams finally bid their title aspirations goodbye while the winners advance to the finale of the season-opening tournament.

The tale of young coaches Ryan Gregorio and Siot Tanquingcen may essay another chapter if they reach the titular showdown. Or Tim Cone and Chot Reyes may stage a tested story line of master tacticians’ war at the bench.

It may also turn into a sister act between either San Miguel and Coca-Cola or San Miguel and Purefoods. And yet Alaska may spoil a potential SMC family party.

Both semis playoffs reach a Game Five as the Tigers and the Aces stopped the Hotdogs and the Beermen, respectively, Tuesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Stalled in their bid for a sixth straight finals appearance in Game Four, the Beermen will not only contend with a tough rival but a fragile morale brought about by a struggling import Lamont Strothers who’s hurting with a right shoulder injury. Strothers averaged only nine points in the first four games of the series.

The Beermen claimed Games One and Two with local players Boybits Victoria, Dorian Peña and Rob Duat stepping up.

But in Game Four, Don Allado and John Arigo took their turn to shine, dishing out solid games as Alaska extended the series to a deciding fifth game with a 74-63 victory.

"I just hope we can make our young players smart enough not to be happy. This victory doesn’t mean much. We can only start celebrating and be happy if we win Game Five," said Alaska coach Tim Cone.

Coca-Cola coach Chot Reyes is as cautious as Cone although they have dodged two killer blows from Purefoods.

"I’m still hoping our big fighting heart can overcome their (the Hotdogs) height and athleticism," said Reyes.

"We’re playing with a theme of hustle, heart and harmony. Hustle represents our energy, heart our courage and harmony our teamwork."