Key tiffs at NAS, in Bahrain

MANILA, Philippines — Crucial double-header at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium and an equally important match over in Bahrain.

Three key matches in all are set in the third to the last play date of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup eliminations today, virtual playoff duels featuring teams in the final push of their respective playoff bids.

It’s San Miguel Beer versus Terrafirma at 5:15 p.m. then Converge against NLEX at 7:30 p.m. at NAS, while Rain or Shine and Barangay Ginebra duke it out at 11 p.m. Manila time over at the Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Bahrain.

The Gin Kings shoot for two birds with one stone versus the E-Painters, eyeing a win that will seal their playoff entry and, at the same time, keep alive their hopes of salvaging a twice-to-beat bonus in the quarters.

The E-Painters, meanwhile, go for a sweep of their two games in Bahrain – a result that could give them a shot at playoff top seeding.

On Monday, coach Yeng Guiao’s troops torched the Magnolia Hotshots, 101-92, behind 17 triples to put a lock on a Top Four finish.

Back home tonight, Converge and NLEX are tipped to figure in a dogfight as they dispute a 7-4 closing mark and a crack at the win-once bonus.

Erstwhile leaders, the FiberXers and the Road Warriors dropped to a heavy logjam in the middle of the chart as both hit a roadblock and lost their last two outings.

Going to their closing match, the two teams share third to sixth spots with Magnolia and a streaking Meralco at 6-4. Rain or Shine is on top at 8-2 followed by San Miguel Beer at 7-2 then TNT Tropang 5G at 6-3.

The Beermen are fancied to also gain a lock on a Top Four spot, being heavily favored versus the Terrafirma Dyip in the other game at NAS.

Should the Beermen prevail, the Tropang 5G, the FiberXers, the Road Warriors, the Bolts, the Hotshots and even the Barangay Ginebra Kings (5-4) will be left in a mad rumble for the last two seats in the Magic Four.

Titan Ultra is the only other team remaining in playoff contention at 4-6.