ICTSI, Montana press playoff bids

ICTSI and Montana Jewels will try to fortify their bids for the wild card entry as they battle separate rivals today in the PBL Challenge Cup at the Makati Coliseum.

ICTSI duels Cheese Balls-Shark at 3 p.m. while Montana struggles for life when it tackles John-O at 5.

The ICTSI Archers have to hurdle their last two outings to ensure a playoff against LBC-Batangas for the last seat into the crossover semifinals.

And if they could repeat their 77-74 triumph over Cheese Balls last Nov. 16, all the Ricky Razon-owned franchise should do is prevail over Sunkist-Pampanga on Saturday.

"If we hurdle our last two outings, that should make up for our past lapses. We have to make sure other complications are eliminated so we can focus on that playoff against LBC-Batangas and get ourselves into the crossover semifinals," said ICTSI coach Franz Pumaren.

Pumaren hopes Bernzon Franco would repeat his feat that pivoted ICTSI’s first round win and likewise expects draft hopefuls Adonis Sta. Maria, Bruce Dacia and Rob Johnson together with Dominic Uy to show a different intensity.

However, Cheese Balls-Shark is also in high morale, that despite out of contention, they still showed their true colors in the overpowering 85-65 victory that ousted John-O from contention Monday night.

"Mas maganda ang samahan ng team ngayon at kahit out na kami, buhos pa rin yung efforts nila. This is our last game and the boys want a graceful exit," said Cheese Balls-Shark coach Philip Cezar.

Montana is hoping against hope that it could still wrest the chance for the wildcard entry. The Jewelers are favored with their 85-82 triumph over John-O last Nov. 9.

But the only way they could achieve that bid is to win over John-O and pray ICTSI loses its last two games. A tie in their win-loss record would still send ICTSI to the playoff having won over Montana twice.