At the close of PBA elims, Bolts seek crucial win vs E-Painters

MANILA, Philippines - Meralco takes on Rain or Shine at the close of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup elimination round tonight, going all-out for a victory in a bid to avoid facing off the second seeded E-Painters in the playoffs beginning Friday.

Currently at seventh with a 6-7 win-loss card, the Bolts can finish as high as fifth with a win over the Elasto Painters in their 5:15 p.m. match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

A loss, however, would keep Meralco at seventh, pitting the Bolts against the E-Painters in the quarters where they would need to win two in a row to make the Final Four.

Talk n Text and Petron Blaze, tied at 7-6, finalize their places in the Top Six as they square off in the other game at 7:30 p.m.

Through the penultimate day of the elims, Alaska Milk and Rain or Shine have secured the Top Two spots, San Mig Coffee, Petron and Talk n Text clinched berths in the next four while Air21 nailed the eighth and last quarters berth.

Still up in the air are the fates of Meralco and Barangay Ginebra. One of them join San Mig, Petron and TnT in the two best-of-three quarterfinals showdowns. The other faces a team in the quarters with a twice-to-beat advantage.

“We want to give ourselves the best possible opportunity to make the Final Four,” said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio, hinting at his team going all out to nail a crucial win.

Gregorio, however, foresees tough sailing versus the E-Painters.

“We expect a tough match-up with Rain or Shine. They pose a big match-up problem for us because of their size. We have to outwork them especially on the defensive end,” he said.

Though the game is non-bearing for them, Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said they would come out to win.

“We will do our usual preparation for this game. We want to keep our momentum and enter the quarters on a winning note,” said Guiao.

“It’s not important who we face in the quarters. We just want to be sharp and healthy in the playoffs. Overall, it’s been a good elimination round for us and the best way to end it is on a positive note,” Guiao also said.

Coaches Norman Black of Talk n Text and Olsen Racela of Petron said they also want to end their elims stints on a winning note.

Petron dislodges San Mig Coffee at third if it beats Talk n Text. The Texters, meanwhile, end up fourth behind the Aces, the E-Painters and the Mixers should they prevail.

One quarters pairing already sealed is the one between top seed Alaska and No. 8 Air21.