Texters, Mixers to fan bid for twice-to-beat; Kings zero in on No. 1 vs B Pier

MANILA, Philippines - Barangay Ginebra takes the first of two cracks at the playoffs top seeding as it tangles with a Globalport side out to clinch quarterfinals entry in a key match in the third to the last playdate of the PLDT MyDSL PBA Philippine Cup elimination round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.

Meanwhile, Talk n Text and San Mig Coffee slug it out in the day’s other game for positioning and the needed momentum for the post-elims play.

The Kings take on the Batang Pier at 5:45 p.m. chasing a victory that will guarantee them No. 1 spot at the close of the elims.

For the record, Ginebra has never topped the elims since its amazing run in the 2006-07 Philippine Cup where it went on to claim its last all-Filipino crown.

“On Friday against Globalport, we’ll try our best to achieve the goal,” said Ginebra coach Ato Agustin, though, he expects a tough challenge against the Batang Pier who are also after a crucial victory.

But coach Ritchie Ticzon and his troops are determined to end their elimination-round stint with a decisive win that would give them a lock on a quarters seat and a shot at the best-of-three quarterfinals.

“We have to find a way to stop their bigs from dominating the paint. And we also have to neutralize their shooters,” said Ticzon.

Globalport is tied with Barako Bull and Meralco at sixth place with identical 5-8 win-loss records, just a game up on ninth-running Alaska Milk (4-9).

Talk n Text (7-5) and San Mig Coffee (6-7) have secured playoff spots but are out in the fight for the twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

At 7-5, Talk n Text is sure to figure in the best-of-three quarters series. San Mig pursues the same goal in its battle with Talk n Text at 8 p.m.

At 6-7, the Mixers are still in danger of finishing at seventh or eighth if they lose to the Texters. A win, on the other hand, gives San Mig a chance to snatch fourth place from TnT.

For the Texters, their last two games have become inconsequential following their ouster in the race for the Top Two on Rain or Shine’s victory over Meralco Wednesday night.