MANILA, Philippines — Not all teams that lost its first six games get a chance to contend for a quarterfinal seat.
And so a grateful NorthPort (3-7) intends to make the most of the rare opportunity to draw level with Phoenix (4-7) at No. 8 and force a sudden death for the last ticket to the PBA Governors’ Cup playoffs.
But for this to happen, the Batang Pier must hurdle the tournament’s pacesetter no less, TNT (8-1), which returns to action today after its stint in the East Asia Super League Champions Week in Japan.
“Halos lahat nagsabi na wala na kami following our (horrible 0-6) start. Pero ‘yung ibang dating nauuna pa sa amin, wala na ngayon (from the playoffs race) samantalang kami nandito pa,” said coach Bonnie Tan, whose charges pumped life into their quest by winning three of their last four assignments and caught a break when Phoenix finished with a reachable four-win card.
Game time is set at 3 p.m. at the PhilSports Arena with the Fuel Masters rooting for the Tropang Giga to give NorthPort the boot and hand them a hassle-free entry into the next round.
TNT, which owns a hot six-game streak before its 24-day break in the PBA, is out to strengthen its hold of top spot with gunners RR Pogoy and Mikey Williams back on board after getting sidelined by ankle injuries.
The 5:45 p.m. main game is crucial for protagonists San Miguel Beer (7-2) and NLEX (7-3).
At stake is a guaranteed place in the Top 4 alongside TNT and second-running Barangay Ginebra (8-2) that comes with the coveted twice-to-beat bonus.
A loss may jeopardize the bids of SMB and NLEX to stay in the advantageous positions with Meralco (7-4) and Magnolia (7-4) just waiting for their slip-ups.