Games Today
(Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay City)
4:15 p.m. – San Miguel vs Blackwater
7 p.m. – Star vs Alaska
For now, the situation seems complicated, but Star is determined to notch its 9th win when it battles slumping Alaska today in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
“Importante sa amin ngayon is manalo, yun lang ang focus ng buong team, yun lang ang naging discussion namin sa ensayo the past few days,” said Coach Chito Victolero after the Star’s practice session yesterday at the Ronac Gym in San Juan.
After which, the Hotshots can hope for the best as they wait for the outcome of the remaining games of Ginebra and San Miguel.
Star and Ginebra are tied for the lead with similar 8-2 cards while San Miguel is not far behind with a 7-2 mark.
The top two places after the elims will secure twice-to-beat privileges in the quarterfinal round.
On a roll having won their last four games, including the last two with import Ricardo Ratliffe, the Hotshots are installed heavy favorites against the Aces in their 7 p.m. match, right after the 4:15 p.m. game pitting powerhouse San Miguel Beer and Blackwater – a team already eliminated in the playoff race.
Should the Hotshots win, there is no assurance for them to get the twice-to-beat advantage.
That is if Ginebra and San Miguel hurdle their remaining matches.
If the three end up with similar 9-2 records, San Mig and Ginebra will secure the bonuses while Star will finish at No. 3 due to their inferior quotient.
If that happens, they will face the No. 6 qualifier.
Aside from Blackwater, reigning Philippine Cup champion San Miguel Beer clashes with GlobalPort for its final game on Friday, the same day Governors’ Cup titlist Ginebra meets also-ran Mahindra at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
In the event they – Star, SMB and Ginebra – finish in a three-way tie, the Kings and the Beermen get twice-to-beat while the Hotshots drop to No. 3, which plays the No. 6 team in a crossover best-of-three quarterfinal series.
That’s because San Miguel and Ginebra have superior quotients over Star, which lost in the elimination match versus the two squads.
