Ian Sangalang (with ball) and the Hotshots live to fight one other day. —MARLO CUETO
The moment the PBA Commissioner’s Cup race heated up, teams battled hard to ensure they might tab considered one of the 4 quarterfinal slots with twice-to-beat protection.
Look how that has turned out thus far.
NLEx worked its option to the highest seed, while Meralco fought hard enough to cling to the fourth spot, only to see No. 8 TNT and No. 5 Magnolia force them to fish out their twice-to-beat card with a gritty survival win at Ninoy Aquino Stadium last Wednesday.
It’s something that can burden the minds of Rain or Shine and Barangay Ginebra.
The 2 squads enter the second day of the quarterfinal phase also armed with playoff protection they usually are hoping they won’t need it.
Because Elasto Painters coach Yeng Guiao knows one thing concerning the twice-to-beat advantage.
“If it reaches the second game, the pressure will [shift to] us,” he said.
It should actually be on the Road Warriors and the Bolts after stinging defeats last Wednesday.
Magnolia erased Meralco’s bonus with a 95-89 victory behind Clint Chapman.
“We just prolonged our lives,” Magnolia coach LA Tenorio said after forcing a rubber match.
TNT followed with a tense 96-93 win over top-seeded NLEx despite a furious Road Warriors comeback.
Cautionary examples
The Tropang 5G will carry an enormous advantage into the knockout match as they’ll have Bol Bol, the enigmatic import who’s the closest there may be to a sure bucket. He had 24 points and 14 rebounds, while Calvin Oftana, Roger Pogoy and Jayson Castro all scored in double figures for the Tropang 5G.
NLEx did its best to finish things on Wednesday, but a late rally fell short following star guard Robert Bolick’s disqualification on fouls.
“It’s a giant factor that Bolick wasn’t there within the endgame,” TNT coach Chot Reyes said.
The primary two matches will function cautionary examples for Rain or Shine and Ginebra, who understand that the teams they’re facing are usually not true underdogs.
“In case you take a look at the teams at the underside 4, any considered one of them might have been in the highest 4,” Guiao said.
San Miguel Beer actually matches that bill. Slowed by import woes early within the conference, the Beermen have bounced back with Benny Boatwright returning to the fold.
San Miguel also owns considered one of the deepest local talents within the league, something that makes Guiao thankful that they no less than have a bonus with a shorter path to the quarterfinals.
“It’s a giant thing that we [have a] twice-to-beat [advantage],” Guiao said. “Not less than now we have [an extra] likelihood to beat them.”
But he’s still hoping he doesn’t should use it.