Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4:15 p.m. – Ginebra vs Barako Bull
6:30 p.m. – San Mig Coffee vs Rain or Shine
MANILA, Philippines - San Mig Coffee and Rain or Shine fight for second place while Barangay Ginebra guns for a slot in the Top Six against back-to-the-wall Barako Bull in the fourth to last play day of the PBA Philippine Cup elimination round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.
The Kings chase a sixth straight win and eighth in 13 games versus the Energy Cola in their 4:15 p.m. game while the Mixers and the Elasto Painters are both looking for a ninth win as they tangle at 6:30 p.m.
San Mig Coffee and Rain or Shine are left in a virtual mano-a-mano for one of two twice-to-beat incentives staked in the quarterfinals as Talk n Text claimed the first on its 95-82 lashing of Petron Blaze Wednesday at the Big Dome.
“On many different levels, Rain or Shine is always a challenge to play against,” said San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone.
“We’ve played a number of significant games against them lately and this is another one since the winner will have the inside track on the number two seed,” Cone added.
“We are ready for tomorrow (Sunday). We know they are a good defensive team and our focus is to execute under pressure. We expect a hard fought game and we can’t fall behind like we did the last time we played them,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.
“We will miss (the injury-stricken) Jireh (Ibanes) because he matches well with James Yap. We’ll just have to find ways to manage their scorers,” Guiao added.
The two teams figured in a battle in their initial meeting on Oct. 24 with Rain or Shine prevailing, 80-79.
The Elasto Painters and the Mixers are again tipped to fight tooth and nail with both in pursuit of a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals. Whichever team settles for third figures in a best-of-three showdown in the quarters.
The third to sixth seeds play in a pair of best-of-three duels.That is the goal of the Kings as they seek to avenge their 82-92 defeat to the Energy Cola in their previous tiff.
Calvin Abueva churned out another double-double game with 21 points and 12 rebounds as Alaska Milk caught up with Meralco at fifth place at 7-6 on its 101-95 win over Globalport in their Phoenix Fuel-sponsored road game in Dipolog City last night.
The Batang Pier are officially out of the running for the quarterfinals with a 1-11 slate.
Ginebra is hot on a five-game streak setting out for today’s game.
“Hindi pa rin pwedeng mag-relax. We have to keep working. We haven’t achieve anything yet,” said Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen.
Behind another ferocious performance, the Kings clobbered the Air21 Express Friday, 99-76, to keep hold of fourth place at 7-5, half-game ahead of the Meralco Bolts at 7-6.
“The guys are playing more to their roles and it’s really a good win for us,” said Tanquingcen after the game.