CEBU, Philippines - Though assured of a twice-to-beat incentive, Talk n Text is raring to come out strong versus Air21 tonight, hoping to stay sharp and ride a momentum heading to the PBA Philippine Cup playoffs.
The Tropang Texters play the Express in the penultimate playdate of the elimination round at the Araneta Coliseum, seeking a fifth straight win that will give them top seeding in the quarterfinals.
The Express, however, are likewise aching to win to get a chance at the Top Six.
It’s Rain or Shine’s the same goal as it tangles with Barangay Ginebra in the day’s other game.
Talk n Text and Air21 clash at 4 p.m. then Rain or Shine and Ginebra collide at 6:30 p.m.
The Kings have settled for third seeding in the playoffs after a loss to the Tropang Texters in their crucial tiff Friday.
The Texters, meanwhile, assured themselves of at least second. They overtake the San Miguel Beermen for the top ranking with another win tonight.
“Of course, we’ll go for that,” said Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes.
“Can we follow Friday’s win with another good effort? It’s important we do in preparation for the playoffs where we’ll play every other day,” Reyes added.
The Express, however, look armed to the teeth.
“We want to play on even terms in the quarterfinals. We want out of the last four,” said Air21 coach Yeng Guiao.
The Express are currently tied with the Alaska Milk Aces and the Meralco Bolts B-Boys at joint fifth with similar 6-7 win-loss cards. Half-game behind is Rain or Shine at 5-7.
These teams are slugging it out for the fifth and sixth slots to be ranged versus Barangay Ginebra and B-MEG Derby Ace in best-of-three quarterfinal showdowns.
The eventual seventh placer and eighth placer play the top two, needing to win two in a row to make it past the quarters.
Out after the elims are Powerade (3-10) and Barako Bull 3-11)