San Miguel Beermen import Bennie Boatwright.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
San Miguel Beer and Meralco face lowly teams to shut out their elimination round campaigns within the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup, their sights set on winning despite different circumstances concerning their places within the playoffs.
Still with control of their destiny when it comes to gaining a twice-to-beat advantage within the quarterfinals, the Beermen look to enter the playoffs on a vibrant note with an expected win against the Blackwater Bossing on Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum as they proceed to do what has gone right during a four-game winning streak.
“I felt like during our two-game losing streak that we tried to go one-on-one,” veteran guard Chris Ross said, referring to a slide that got here before the present roll San Miguel enjoys, which is the rationale why a top 4 finish is all but a mere formality, barring a surprising slip-up within the 4 p.m. contest.
“I told the blokes that if we play with one another and share the ball, it makes the sport a lot easier for everyone else because we’re so talented. If we just play the correct way, the ball will find its way,” added Ross.
Meralco, meanwhile, has little or no control of its fate. Though assured of a slot within the playoffs, the Bolts were stung by a 93-83 loss to Phoenix that left their probabilities at a playoff bonus hanging on the outcomes of games of other teams within the upper half of the standings.
Favored against Terrafirma within the 8 p.m. game, the Bolts will probably find yourself tied with the Beermen and idle Barangay Ginebra after Friday. That might relegate them to a fifth place finish and with the duty of beating No. 4 two straight times within the quarterfinals to advance.
For the Bolts to assert a twice-to-beat bonus, they’d, apart from winning over the Dyip, must see a loss from either the Beermen or the Gin Kings, who play desperate NLEX on Saturday in Legazpi City.
“It’s tough for us. But we just should focus now on the playoffs,” lamented Trillo after the loss to Phoenix that gave the Fuel Masters the second twice-to-beat edge. Magnolia had claimed the primary one last week.
NLEX’s last likelihood
The Road Warriors may even come to Bicolandia eager to get a win within the race for the ultimate spot within the tournament’s next phase. NLEX outlasted Converge, 107-103, in Wednesday’s other game, tying TNT for eighth at 4-6. TNT has Phoenix on Sunday at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Phoenix became the second team to get the twice-to-beat after improving to 8-2, an unexpected rise for a team that entered the season with a youth-laden squad and isn’t among the many league’s traditional contenders.
But Phoenix is not any longer assured of the highest spot, now occupied by Magnolia after going 9-2 within the eliminations, owing to the Fuel Masters’ loss to the Hotshots in November.
Already aware of their seedings are NorthPort, which matches into the playoffs at sixth after ending at 6-5, and Rain or Shine, to play because the seventh-ranked squad regardless if it improves its 5-5 record or do otherwise on Sunday against Converge.
Rain or Shine has the sting over TNT and NLEX within the tiebreaker if a three-way tie occurs for seventh to ninth.
