Lull before storm

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) takes a rest today before returning with a bang via a Christmas doubleheader at the Araneta Coliseum tomorrow.

It’s unusual not to watch a PBA twinbill on a Sunday but I’m sure commissioner Noli Eala’s idea of calling a lull before the storm to celebrate Christmas Eve is much appreciated by the fans.

Besides, playing on Christmas Day has become an institution of sorts in the pro league. And Christmas Day crowds are traditionally overflowing.

It’s also unusual for the PBA to play games on Christmas Day at the Big Dome. The Cuneta Astrodome was the setting for past Christmas Day games because the Araneta Coliseum was always booked for a show like a Disney On Ice or whatever. Luckily, the Cubao hoophouse is free for the PBA tomorrow and that’s a treat in itself.

In fact, Eala is offering a triple treat for fans.

First, there’s the excitement of watching two blockbuster games, one of which will decide if Talk ‘N’ Text will make it to the quarterfinals outright or not. Second, there’s the treat of watching the games at the Araneta Coliseum which is a far better venue than the Astrodome. And third, there’s the can’t-miss offer of watching the games at no charge from the upper box B and general admission sections.

The first game is scheduled at 2:30 p.m. (the early tip-off will allow families to enjoy Christmas Day dinner without distractions) and pits outright semifinal qualifier San Miguel Beer (12-5) against wildcard contender Air21 (7-10).

The Express is out to snap a two-game losing streak, something coach Bo Perasol is determined to do because of the carry-over wildcard rule. Four teams are playing a round-robin schedule in the wildcard series starting Jan. 5. Air21, Alaska (8-10) and Coca-Cola (5-13) are assured of wildcard slots. The fourth ticket will go to either Talk ‘N’ Text or Sta. Lucia Realty, whichever falls out of the quarterfinal race.

Despite its lowly record, Coca-Cola has an outside chance of surviving the wildcard series and barging into the quarters. That’s because of the incentive rule where a team that sweeps its wildcard assignments gains an automatic playoff for a quarters ticket assuming it doesn’t wind up No. 1 in the elimination series.

As for San Miguel, coach Chot Reyes is looking to extend the Beermen’s win skein to seven in a row. He’ll play it cool for sure because win or lose, San Miguel is safely in the semis. But Reyes is unforgiving when it comes to trying to nail a win, no matter what’s at stake. Besides, there’s the juicy possibility of San Miguel tying Ginebra at the top of the heap (if Ginebra loses to Talk ‘N’ Text).

A bonus treat is watching Danny Seigle and Lordy Tugade engage slam dunk king Niño Canaleta, prized rookie Arwind Santos and versatile Ranidel de Ocampo in a shootout.

The second game features Ginebra San Miguel (13-4) against the Phone Pals (9-8). The Kings are the league’s No. 1 team with a semis berth in their pocket. Like San Miguel, Ginebra is out to stretch its winning streak to eight straight. No team relishes the thought of entering the semis on a losing note so expect San Miguel and Ginebra to go all out to treat their fans with a victory.

As for Talk ‘N’ Text, a win will mean outright entry into the quarters and avoiding the danger of playing in the wildcard survivor series.

If the Phone Pals beat Ginebra, they finish the eliminations with a 10-8 record, tying Sta. Lucia and Purefoods. The possible three-way tie will be broken by a knockout game between the two lower-quotient teams. The team with the highest quotient gains safe passage to the quarterfinals by virtue of a bye.

In a three-way tie, Talk ‘N’ Text will automatically enter the quarterfinals with a superior plus-4 quotient. Purefoods (plus-3) and Sta. Lucia (minus-7) will play for the third outright quarterfinals slot in a knockout game on Jan. 3, if necessary.

That means the Phone Pals’ reward for beating Ginebra tomorrow is an outright ticket to the quarters and the penalty for losing is dropping to the wildcard series. Obviously, Talk ‘N’ Text will come out with guns blazing tomorrow.

To gift-wrap the holiday treat, the PBA is opening the upper box B and general admission sections free to the public. Fans won’t even need to shell out P5 for a ticket — they’ll be allowed to enter the Big Dome at no charge with a proof of purchase of any product of the league’s 10 teams (bottle caps of Ginebra San Miguel, San Miguel Beer, Coca-Cola and Red Bull will be accepted).

It’s fitting that the double-round eliminations will end with a bang tomorrow. Ginebra and San Miguel have qualified for the semifinals outright while Welcoat (3-15) will take a vacation to prepare for the next conference as the only team scratched out of contention. Red Bull (11-7) has locked up an automatic quarters slot and will be joined in the best-of-5 phase by three others, one of which will be the survivor of the wildcard series.

Both the finals and the semifinals will be best-of-7 affairs.

There’s no better way for the PBA to wish one and all a Merry Christmas than its big holiday doubleheader at the Big Dome tomorrow. Let’s all enjoy the triple treat!

Postscript: The grand alumni homecoming of Manuel A. Roxas High Scool in Canonigo, Paco, Manila, will be held on Jan. 28 from 1 p.m. onwards. Calling the attention of batch ’69 to attend. For details, contact Dr. Roger Lachicha (0918-9156010), Capt. Manny de Guzman (0920-8030113), Marilyn Palomar Arganda (0920-9238724), Tessie Rivera de la Peña (0919-5702193), Mercedes Martinez (0918-6945344) and Alma del Rosario Polintan (0918-9179717)... This holiday season, give a gift that’s personal, entertaining, informative and unique. Emerald Headway has nearly 1,000 books and foreign magazines to offer including Elle US, For Me, Bead and Button, People, Guitar World and Road and Track. Join its Warehouse Invasion ’07 promo to get as much as 10 percent discount for every one-year subscription and as much as 7.5 percent discount for a six-month subscription. Moreover, if you subscribe within the promo period on Jan. 18 and 19, 2007, you’ll have the opportunity to gather as many back issue magazines as you can in 10 seconds. For details, call the Subscription Department at 647-4744 or visit the Emerald showroom at 218 Katipunan Avenue, Blue Ridge, Quezon City ... Tomorrow, the cable channel Basketball TV will feature a replay of Shaquille O’Neal’s 1992 NBA debut with the Orlando Magic against Miami at 8 a.m., a replay of Kobe Bryant’s 81-point explosion for the Los Angeles Lakers in a game against Toronto at 11:30 a.m., a Wheel of Fortune special with NBA stars at 4 p.m. and a Lakers-Heat game last season featuring O’Neal versus Kobe at 9:30 p.m. On Tuesday, BTV will air the Lakers versus Miami game live (watch Dwyane Wade battle Kobe) at 3:30 a.m. with a replays at 9 a.m., 4 p..m. and 9:30 p.m.