Will the Tigers have the Energy?

MANILA, Philippines - Barako Bull and Powerade knock each other out tonight in the first phase of a double playoff for the last semifinal berth in the PBA Governors Cup.

The Energy and the Tigers clash at 6:45 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with the winner advancing to the second knockout duel against the Meralco Bolts at the same venue tomorrow.

The survivor in this three-team playoff takes the last slot in the semis, joining early qualifiers Rain or Shine (8-1), B-Meg (6-3), Talk n Text (5-4), Barangay Ginebra (5-4) and Petron Blaze (5-4).

The Energy and the Tigers both vow to give all they’ve got to extend their season.

Powerade was the Cinderalla team in the Philippine Cup, placing second to Talk n Text while Barako Bull had its own breakthrough in the second conference, narrowly missing the finals in bungling a 2-1 lead over the Texters in their best-of-five semis showdown.

Barako coach Junel Baculi is confident they can do it with their battle-scarred veteran stars headed by Willie Miller, Danny Seigle, Don Allado, Mick Pennisi and Ronald Tubid.

Powerade coach Bo Perasol, meanwhile, said they should not let this opportunity slip away.

The Tigers barely got a playoff crack when the Energy stopped the Bolts, 81-79, at the close of the elims phase Sunday.

“We had been given numerous chances and we did not get it done. We know we won’t have another one if we let this go,” said Perasol.

Powerade bungled three chances to get outright entry into the semis in losing its last three games in the elims to Air21, Meralco and B-Meg.

Barako, on the other hand, rose up versus Meralco Sunday after dropping its three previous matches to Rain or Shine, Talk n Text and Ginebra.

The Energy topped the Tigers, 106-101, in their elims meeting on May 25.

The two teams, however, face each other in a rematch playing new imports already. It’s now Leroy Hickerson versus Omar Sneed.

Barako did a good job neutralizing Meralco’s local top guns Sunday. The Energy are expected to try the same with much focus on Powerade scoring machine Gary David.