Harbour, Hapee-PCU target semis playoff

Harbour Centre and Hapee Toothpaste-Philippine Christian University go for crucial wins against separate rivals at the close of the classification round of the 2007 PBL Silver Cup today at the Emilio Aguinaldo College gym in Manila.

With Mail & More and Toyota Otis waiting in the wings, the Port Masters and Teethmasters must hurdle their last assignments to secure a playoff for two outright semis berths.

The Port Masters, seeking a second straight championship after ruling the Unity Cup last year, collide with winless Kettle Korn-University of Santo Tomas at 2 p.m., while the Teethmasters, fresh from snapping a three-game losing run, battle the dangerous Cebuana Lhuillier Pera Padala Moneymen at 4 p.m.

The Comets and Sparks finished the round with similar 7-3 win-loss records while the Teethmasters and Port Masters are tied at 6-3.

If both Harbour Centre and Hapee prevail, a two-game playoff for two semis berths will be held. If this happens, Harbour will emerge No. 1 due to its superior quotient while Mail & More, Hapee and Toyota Otis will end up second, third and fourth, respectively.

Being the top qualifier, the Port Masters will face the Sparks while the Comets and Teethmasters collide in the other playoff with the winners advancing to the semis outright. The losers, however, will enjoy twice-to-beat privilege in the quarters.

But if Harbour wins and Hapee stumbles, the Port Masters will clinch the first semis berth owing to their better quotient over Mail & More and Toyota Otis. The Sparks and Comets will again clash for the second semis berth.

The Comets and Sparks, however, will advance outright into the Final Four if both Harbour and Hapee drop their games.