Purefoods, Alaska rekindle rivalry as PBA semis fire off

MANILA, Philippines – Old rivals Purefoods Star and Alaska Milk face off in a grudge match while Meralco and NLEX figure in a sibling duel at the start of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday night.

These four teams engage in pair of best-of-three showdowns while top seeds Rain or Shine and Talk n Text brace up as they go for the kill versus No. 8 Barangay Ginebra and No. 7 Barako Bull in their own quarters matchups tomorrow over at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.

As the elimination-round top notchers, the Elasto Painters and the Tropang Texters have two cracks at the semifinals while the Gin Kings and the Energy need to win two in a row to steal a spot in the Final Four.

The Road Warriors and the Bolts clash at 4:15 p.m. then the Hotshots and the Aces collide at 7 p.m. in disputing the decisive head start in their short series.

Odds are about even in the NLEX-Meralco duel while the Hotshots are considered the favorites versus the Aces owing to their better showing in the elims.

Purefoods crushed Alaska, 108-88, on Feb. 3 and the Hotshots also topped the Aces, 2-1, in their quarters confrontation in the same tournament last year.

“I’m just grateful we made the playoffs,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton, expecting a tougher road ahead after barely making the post-elims play.

The Aces face a formidable task versus the Hotshots, the defending champs that ride the momentum of a four-game run going into the quarters.

The Hotshots lost only three matches in the elims when they tried their luck with Daniel Orton for two games, and in their first game with the returning Denzel Bowles.

“We play Purefoods, the best team in the league at winning in these situations. Everyone on that team knows how to win and Denzel is playing great. I’m sure we will learn some lessons from them in this short series, but hopefully we can find ways to steal some possession from them,” said Compton.

The Road Warriors and the Bolts both brace for a battle.

“Yes, we won over them in the elims but, at that time, Josh Davis was coming off an injury. But Davis is back in top shape and we are facing a defensive-minded team. It will take a collective effort from our players to win Game One and hopefully the series,” said NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez.

“NLEX will be a tough hurdle. They have size with Asi (Taulava) and they have an explosive import in Al Thornton. They surround those guys with shooters so they are a well-balanced team,” said Meralco coach Norman Black.

“If we are to break out of our slump, this is the best time to do it because there’s a semis berth on the line,” Black added.

The Bolts had been on a perfect run until Davis took a bad fall in a game against the San Miguel Beermen – an accident leading to five losses in their last six games.

Davis was still hurt when they bowed to the Road Warriors, 76-89, on Feb. 27.