CEBU, Philippines - The PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs begin today with a pair of matches that aim to capture Game 1 of their respective ‘best-of-three’ quarterfinals series.
The Alaska Aces and the Tropang TNT take the floor at 3 pm then the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and Barangay Ginebra slug it out at 5:15 pm.
With the reactivation of one-time Best Import Rob Dozier, the Aces hopes for another good run in the playoffs for its third straight PBA finals stint.
Dozier will be matched up against TNT’s David Simon.
Aside from its import, Gilas Pilipinas mainstay Jayson Castro will also boost TNT’s playoff campaign as he returns from injury.
Meanwhile, Ginebra is out for redemption after a disappointing quarterfinal upset by GlobalPort Batang Pier last All-Filipino Cup.
Ginebra will rely on its two leading scorers in import Otthyus Jeffers and center Greg Slaughter. Jeffers averages 23.1 points and 16.4 rebounds, while the latter has 18.5 markers and 9.7 rebounds during the elimination round.
For his part, coach Yeng Guiao wants to tow Rain or Shine to its ninth Final Four appearance. They will bank on their newly acquired import in Pierre Henderson Niles along with local key players in Jeff Chan, JR Quinahan and Jericho Cruz. (FREEMAN)