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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
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04
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26
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2024
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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
04
26
2024
Corporate rivals TNT KaTropa and San Miguel Beer clash in a crucial Petron Blaze road showdown in Batangas City on Saturday, disputing a win that can well have a huge bearing in the fight for top seeding in the PBA Governors Cup playoffs.
Two of four teams engaged in a mad dash for top honors in the elims, the Texters and the Beermen face off in an expected furious matchup at 5 p.m. at the Batangas City Coliseum.
The initial goal for both is to secure a Top Four finish for a twice-to-beat in the quarterfinals. And eventually, they would pursue a bid for top seeding for a lighter matchup at the start of the playoff play.
The Texters try to hang on to the top, going for an eighth win against a lone defeat at the hands of the Mahindra Enforcers while the Beermen will be out to forge a tie at 7-2.
Jason Castro and Ranidel de Ocampo conspired for the winning play as the Texters escaped with a 122-120 nail-biter over the Globalport Batang Pier Wednesday and thus guaranteed themselves of at least at tie for fourth place at the close of the elims.
One more win in their last three games assures them of a twice-to-beat privilege in the quarters.
“We really barely escaped. Anyway, anyhow, we needed this win. We’re moving on to the next game,” said TNT coach Jong Uichico shortly after their win against the Batang Pier.
San Miguel, meanwhile, got extra boost from import sub Mike Singletary as it repulsed Meralco, 110-106, to enhance its own Top Four aspiration.
“Importanteng panalo yun. Dahil doon, naka-dikit pa rin kami sa leader at medyo umalagwa kami sa mga nasa ibaba,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.
But one will get stalled as the Texters and the Beermen cross paths in Batangas.
June Mar Fajardo, Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot are enjoying top forms but so are Jason Castro, Ranidel de Ocampo, Mo Tautuaa and the other TNT core players.
Michael Singletary and Mychal Ammons could have their own interesting showdown.
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