Red Bull Barako, RCBC gun for semis berths

Red Bull Barako, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) and CAR, Inc. gun for the last two Final Four berths as they take on separate rivals today in the Coke Light Invitational basketball tournament at the Meralco Gym.

Among the three, the Red Bull Barako side seems to have an easy assignment as it clashes with Sunkist, winless in four outings in this event staged to foster camaraderie and friendship among The STAR’s advertisers and business partners. Gametime is at 8 a.m.

The Bankers and CAR, Inc., on the other hand, are expected to have their hands full as they tangle with joint leaders The STAR and PLDT, which tote identical 3-1 slates, at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., respectively.

Victories by The STARmen and the Phone Pals coupled with a win by Red Bull Barako will clinch them the outright semis slots, leaving RCBC, champion of last year’s STAR Friendship League, and CAR, Inc. tied for fourth.

Since CAR, Inc. downed RCBC, 115-103, last week, the former will clinch the last semis slot although it will face the No. 1 team in the crossover semis, in this case STAR, which beat PLDT in the elims. The No. 2 and No. 3 teams dispute the other finals berth.

There is also the possibility, though remote, of a five-way logjam for the four seats if Red Bull Barako wins and RCBC and CAR, Inc. pull off stunners over their fancied rivals.

Ties will be resolved using the win-over-the-other rule and the quotient score next.