Four teams dispute Final Four slots today

MANILA, Philippines - The Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference resumes today after an 11-day break with Sta. Lucia Realty, Purefoods, Burger King and Rain or Shine figuring in a double knockout at the Araneta Coliseum to determine the last two teams making the Final Four.

After helping the Powerade Team Pilipinas rule the SEABA championship, coach Yeng Guiao and national players Ryan Reyes, Kerby Raymundo, James Yap, Arwind Santos and Gabe Norwood rejoin their respective mother teams, slugging it out for a seat in the semifinals with San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra.

The Realtors and the Whoppers square off at 4 p.m. for the right to play the Beermen in the semis while the Giants and the Elasto Painters battle at 6:30 p.m. with the winner gaining a crack at the finals versus the Kings.

Reyes is still slightly hurt but insists he’s ready to play, hoping to help Sta. Lucia get past Burger King.

Rain or Shine’s Sol Mercado nurses a hamstring injury like Reyes, and he could see action for only limited minutes.

“It still hurts a little but definitely I’m suiting up and will help the team the best I can,” Reyes told The STAR while the Powerade Team Pilipinas was in its journey back to Manila from Medan, Indonesia.

“We’re facing an uphill battle minus Kelly and with Ryan hurting. But it’s still anyone’s game. We are ready and prepared with or without Ryan,” said Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez.

Guiao, who piloted the RP squad to the SEABA title conquest, had only three days to prepare his BK squad for this knockout setto, but he’s also confident they can pass the test.

“The guys didn’t think about the game plan, the X’s and O’s until I came back. But they stayed in shape. And I feel that from the last time we played, we made the right adjustments. The burden of adjustment is now on them,” said Guiao.

The national mentor is also hopeful Arwind Santos can pick up from where he left off in the SEABA joust. The 6-foot-4 forward was among the best performers in that tourney.

Minus Williams, the Realtors still managed to win Game One of their best-of-three quarterfinals series with the Whoppers at 93-84. BK, however, forced the do-or-die with a 94-81 victory in Game Two.

Rain or Shine and Purefoods also split their first two games with the Elasto Painters drawing first blood at 96-87 then the Giants getting even at 84-82.

RoS coach Caloy Garcia said they’re optimistic they would pull through despite injuries to key players. “We’re confident despite the injuries,” said Garcia, referring to Mercado and Ryan Arana.

“We’re still in good shape and we’re actually using those injuries as a motivation for the other players to step up,” Garcia also said.

Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio, on the other hand, stressed their determination to survive and stay alive.

“Our goal is to fight till the end to win our third knockout game (in the tourney). We have fought strong and hard to stave off elimination and we will do whatever it takes to keep on playing in this conference,” said Gregorio.

“All it takes is one game and we will grab the last semis seat. It is a great motivation for us since we failed to make the playoffs the last two conferences,” he added.

“We prepared extensively against Rain or Shine during the break. Part of the plan is to slow down Jai Lewis and challenge the outside sniping of Rob Wainwright.”