Top 3 teams eye top posts

Games today

(MOA Arena)

5:45 p.m. – Ginebra vs Alaska

8 p.m. – San Mig Coffee vs Talk n Text

MANILA, Philippines - Grand slam-seeking San Mig Coffee, Talk n Text and Barangay Ginebra fight to keep their spots on top while Alaska Milk goes for an outright quarterfinals entry as they mix it up in a crucial double-header in the homestretch of the PBA PLDT Home Telpad Governors Cup eliminations at the MOA Arena in Pasay City tonight.

The Gin Kings and the Aces square off at 5:45 p.m. then the Mixers and the Tropang Texters clash at 8 p.m. in their first meeting since their Commissioner’s Cup title showdown.

San Mig Coffee, Talk n Text and Ginebra, tied in the lead with identical 5-2 win-loss marks, are engaged in a mad dash to the Top Four with Air21 and Rain or Shine which are just half-a-game behind at 5-3.

Meanwhile, Alaska, at 3-4, is battling Meralco (2-6) for the last slot in the Final Eight. Barako Bull, at 3-5, is already safe in the quarters with a superior quotient.

Though currently a full game and a half ahead of the Bolts, the Aces are in a precarious position. If Alaska and Meralco end up in a tie at 3-6, the Bolts grab the last quarters slot with a higher tiebreak score.

 â€œAlaska matches up well with us. They are also big and physical. It’s always scary playing against a team who is hungry and desperate,” said Ginebra coach Jeff Cariaso.

The Kings – like the Mixers and the Texters – can’t afford to relax if they’re to be in the Top Four.

San Mig Coffee and Talk n Text are likely to figure in a gut-wrenching battle with both looking to be just a game away from the semifinals at the close of the elims.

The Mixers pulled off an escape act the last time against the Air21 Express to stick with the leaders. The Texters, meanwhile, dropped their last game against the Barako Bull Energy Cola, thus, losing their handle of the solo lead.

“In a big scheme of things, it was a big win for us. We had a big 12-point lead and they stripped it away,” said San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone moments after their 113-109 overtime win over the Express.

“Our job is still very, very hard. Guys like Ping (Marc Pingris), James (Yap), Joe (Devance) and PJ (Simon) must carry their own load and not rely on Marqus (Blakely) too much,” Cone also said.

Talk n Text coach Norman Black said they’re bracing for war.

“It’s a battle for first place and the twice-to-beat advantage so it will be intense,” said Black.

“Energy is the name of the game when you play San Mig so we will have to surpass their energy level to be able to get a win,” Black also said. “They have so many weapons that it will need all of my players to be on top of their game.”

Black said Blakely is their number one concern “because he is a threat on both ends of the court.”

The Mixers beat the Texters in their last two meetings on the way to romping away with the Commissioner’s Cup crown.