Globalport battles Rain or Shine; Ginebra faces NLEX.
Globalport and Rain or Shine clash for a quarterfinals berth along with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in another pair of crucial matches today in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.
The Batang Pier and Elasto Painters, out to end their two-game losing skids, collide in the opener set at 4:15 p.m. before Ginebra looks to frustrate lowly NLEX anew in front of an expected full house at 6:45 p.m.
At presstime, Rain or Shine is tied with the Star Hotshots at 5-4 while Globalport and Ginebra share identical 5-5 slates. The Hotshots were playing the Meralco Bolts at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City yesterday.
Already in the quarters are San Miguel, TNT KaTropa, Alaska and Phoenix, while Star could join the fray if it beats Meralco.
The opening contest will not only witness two teams seeking playoff spots, but also the end of their two-game losing skids.
Rain or Shine suffered a heartbreaking 107-101 loss to San Miguel on Friday the 13th before falling 82-72 on Jan. 20.
Globalport, on the other hand, absorbed a 106-100 defeat to San Miguel last week in Lapu-Lapu City before dropping a 102-98 decision to TNT KaTropa last Wednesday at the Astrodome.
Both teams lost their recent matches despite great individual performances by Rain or Shine’s James Yap and Globalport’s Terrence Romeo.
Yap scored 17 points for the Elasto Painters, perhaps his best game since being acquired from the Hotshots in the offseason, while Romeo erupted for 35 in a losing cause against the KaTropa.
Meanwhile, Ginebra is out to bounce back from a 79-73 loss to Phoenix last Sunday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Ginebra can’t afford to suffer another loss, as it could fall into the predicament of having to play at least a playoff for the last quarterfinals berth.
Or worse, Ginebra could miss the quarterfinals if at least a three-way tie occurs after the elimination round.