Aces continue pursuit of top 2, Bolts shoot to salvage playoff berth

Alaska Milk and Meralco face each other to start their final push in the Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup elimination round.

The Aces pursue a top two finish for an automatic Final Four berth while the Bolts ache to climb out of a deep hole to salvage a spot in the post-elims play.

The two teams clash in a crucial match at 7 p.m. in a rare Thursdaybill at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Riding the momentum of a second three-game run in the tourney, the Aces are determined to avoid the tough quarterfinals grind they had to go through in the same tourney last year after narrowly missing an outright semis passage.

“It’s scary situation,” said Compton of the two-phase quarterfinals stage of the all-Filipino tourney.

After the one round robin elims, the top two automatically make the semifinals and the next eight teams figure in the cutthroat quarters.

In the first quarters phase, teams No. 3, No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 enjoy twice-to-beat advantage versus No. 10, No. 9, No. 8 and No. 7, respectively. The survivors then slug it out in a pair of knockout duels.

The Aces are in a good position to gain outright semis berth with a 6-1 win-loss card.

Languishing in the cellar at 1-7, the Bolts are now virtually fighting for survival.

The Bolts seek to stop a woeful slump versus the Alaska side that swept Meralco in four games last season.

Meralco coach Norman Black insists they’re better than what their current record suggests.

The Bolts seemingly just can’t get the breaks in tough endgame battles. Four times, they were beaten by three points or less.

The Aces, meanwhile, are on a great ride, finding ways to win in whatever manner.

Leading the way are Vic Manuel, Calvin Abueva, Jvee Casio and Joachim Thoss with their double-digit norms.

Then there are also the solid efforts being dished out by Cyrus Baguio, Chris Banchero, Eric Menk, Dondon Hontiveros and RJ Jazul. (SB)

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