Barako zeroes in on q’finals vs RoS

Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

5:15 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Barako Bull

7:30 p.m. – Alaska vs San Mig Coffee 

MANILA, Philippines - Barako Bull guns for an outright playoff spot as it takes on skidding Rain or Shine even as surging Alaska Milk and San Mig Coffee collide in a duel of teams trying to improve their placing in the middle of the chart in another crucial Tuesday card in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Energy Cola and prolific import Michael Singletary clash with the Elasto Painters and hardworking reinforcement Arizona Reid at 5:15 p.m. with the former looking for a fifth win and automatic entry into the quarterfinals.

In their first meeting since their fight-marred tune-up in the season break, the Aces and the Mixers collide at 7:30 p.m. with both out to boost their bid for the Top Four.

 Alaska, the Commissioner’s Cup champion, is currently at No. 4 with a 3-2 win-loss slate while San Mig Coffee is tied with Rain or Shine at fifth place at 3-3.

The Aces and the Mixers are expected to engage in a physical and emotional matchup as they did in their recent tune-up that nearly turned to “basket-brawl.”

San Mig Coffee is welcoming the return of Joe Devance, but not Marc Pingris who’s serving the second of his two-game suspension in the aftermath of the San Mig-Globalport fracas.

“San Mig is not only a well-coached team. They are playing quality basketball. Their chemistry seems to be improving,” said Alaska coach Luigi Trillo.

Both teams have actually been doing well as of late, both winning three of their last four games.

Surprisingly doing a lot better is Barako Bull.

The Energy Cola fought back from 18 points down against the Globalport Batang Pier Sunday, hacking out a 98-97 win to move up to joint second with the Meralco Bolts at 4-2.

The Energy Cola notched a fourth win in their last five games, the team’s strongest surge in the league in a long, long while.