Games on Tuesday
(Ynares Center, Antipolo)
5 p.m. – Blackwater vs Phoenix
7:30 p.m. – NorthPort vs San Miguel
NORMALLY, at this stage of the conference, San Miguel Beer (SMB) already has its berth in the playoffs bagged with a shot at a coveted incentive for the top-ranked quarterfinalists.
But these are not normal times for the mighty Beermen, who are uncharacteristically fighting to stay in the cutline for the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Last-8.
With three losses in their last four games and 4-5 overall, the defending champions find themselves precariously holding on to No. 8 in the standings — barely ahead of ninth-running Magnolia (4-6) and NLEX (4-6).
No way around it, the troops of coach Leo Austria headed by June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Marcio Lassiter, and their fourth import in the conference, Malik Hope, must act now to prevent a major disaster.
And one much-needed victory can be theirs tonight if the Beermen do it right and get it done against skidding NorthPort (7-3) in a pivotal duel at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
They should expect a fierce fight from the Batang Pier, a crew determined to prove its worth as a giant slayer, however.
Even though they’re already assured of a trip to the quarters at this point, the charges of coach Bonnie Tan still require a win in the 7:30 p.m. encounter to fan their own drive for a Top 2 and twice-to-beat advantage.
The former pacesetters are engaged in a tight dispute for the two playoffs bonuses with front-running TNT (6-2), No. 2 Converge (8-3) co-third placers Eastern (7-3) and Meralco (7-3) and Rain or Shine (6-3).
Moreover, an upset against mighty SMB will also serve as a huge morale-booster for the Batang Pier, who fell out of the summit after conceding their last two assignments.
Meanwhile, Blackwater (2-8) and Phoenix (3-7) engage in a clash of bottom-dwelling squads making a desperate push for the quarterfinals.
The Fuel Masters, who lost their last two, sit at 10th, one W behind the ninth-running Hotshots and Road Warriors. The Bossing, who are reeling from a 109-127 setback to the FiberXers, are one adrift Phoenix. — Olmin Leyba
