SMC vs MVP squads seething rivalry kicks off playoffs

MANILA, Philippines - There couldn’t have been a better way to start the PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs than to have teams from two corporate rivals tangling in separate best-of-three showdowns.

San Mig Coffee and Petron, under the San Miguel Corp. umbrella, go up against Meralco and Talk n Text of the MVP Group of Companies, respectively, as their rivalry escalates anew from the boardroom to the hardcourt.

The Mixers, the mid-season conference titleholders, clash with the Bolts at 5:15 p.m. then the Texters, the Philippine Cup three-peat champs, tackle the Boosters at 7:30 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum.

Meanwhile, elimination-round topnotchers Alaska Milk and Rain or Shine take their first of two cracks at the Final Four versus Air21 and Barangay Ginebra, respectively, tomorrow over at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

The Aces, the Express, the Mixers and the Bolts are in the upper bracket of the chart while the E-Painters, the Kings, the Texters and the Boosters are bunched in the lower group.

Alaska and Rain or Shine are favored over Air21 and Ginebra owing to their twice-to-beat edge while the San Mig-Meralco and Petron-TnT matchups remain a toss-up.

Still uncertain at press time, however, is the of Meralco import Eric Dawson who hurt his left knee in their game versus Rain or Shine Wednesday.

“He’s (Dawson) is confident that he can play, but we still have to depend on the findings of Doc (George) Canlas,” said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio.

As it is, Gregorio felt they’re the underdogs versus the Mixers. But the youthful bench tactician vowed they would find ways to compete and win.

“Hard but still achievable. We just have to outwork them on both ends. That is how we can level the playing field,” he said.

San Mig coach Tim Cone admits they struggled in the elims but are hopeful to get going in the playoffs.