Aces, Warriors duel for last playoff berth

MANILA, Philippines — Alaska Milk and NLEX, both bungling two cracks at an outright quarterfinals entry, take their last shot at it in a knockout setto at the MOA Arena in Pasay City tonight.

They figured in a lopsided showdown on March 13, but the Aces and the Road Warriors are now expected to engage in a slambang battle as they slug it out to determine the team that will complete the PBA Philippine Cup playoff cast.

The winner gains the right to play the top seeded Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters in the quarters.

All other seedings have been determined. It’s No. 2 Rain or Shine versus No. 7 NorthPort, No. 3 Barangay Ginebra against No. 6 Magnolia and No. 4 TNT KaTropa opposite No. 5 San Miguel Beer.

The early casualties are Blackwater, Meralco and Columbian Dyip.

The Aces and the Road Warriors are thankful they remain alive, each one vowing to go flat out to progress to the post-elims play.

“We are alive and breathing still with a chance to battle and honor the game. We are grateful to have this chance in spite of the crazy conference we have had and we look forward to bringing our best,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton.

“A chance is all we could have hoped for and a chance is all we’ve got,” he added.

“We still have a chance. And as long as we have a chance to make the next round, we will keep our hopes high and we’ll keep the fight to make it,” said NLEX coach Yeng Guiao.

Guiao and his NLEX troops have the upper hand versus Alaska in their head-on duels. And the Road Warriors stretched the streak on March 13 on a 91-70 rout of the Aces.

Of course, this is an entirely different match with the lives of both teams on the line.

The Road Warriors stayed focused on the task at hand even on the ejection of their coach, and rewarded themselves with a big win in their initial matchup in the tourney.

Assistant coach Jojo Lastimosa took over on the ouster of Guiao then, and the Road Warriors responded well.

“For some reason, we always play well against Alaska,” said Lastimosa.