TEXTERS AIM FOR TOP 2 AS BEERMEN FIGHT FOR LIFE
Talk n Text pursues its Top Two aspirations while San Miguel Beer fights to stay alive as these old rivals face off in their penultimate game in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup elimination round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday.
Tip off is at 7 p.m. with the Tropang Texters looking to tie the Purefoods Star Hotshots in the lead at 7-3 while the Beermen hope to continue to avert elimination, seeking a third straight win.
In the final week of the elims, the Texters (6-3) are locked in a neck-and-neck fight with the Hotshots (7-3), the Meralco Bolts (6-3) and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (6-3) for the Top Two spots that reward twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.
The Texters can’t afford to relax as a loss could mean relegation to Top Six or worse.
Tournament format calls for the Top Two, with a twice-to-beat advantage, to play No. 7 and No. 8 in the quarterfinals.
The next four figure in a pair of best-of-three quarters showdowns.
“Twice-to-beat advantage is crucial. Everybody would love to have that,” said Talk n Text coach Jong Uichico.
At 3-6, the Beermen are fighting for dear life. They would be happy just to salvage the last slot in the eight-team playoffs.
But they’re not losing hope, especially after winning their last two games against the Purefoods Hotshots and the RoS Elasto Painters.
“It’s getting clear that we still have a shot. We just have to take it one game at a time,” said SMB coach Leo Austria, hoping to land the playoffs with a sweep of their last two games.
SMB’s last assignment is GlobalPort on March 24.
Talk n Text, meanwhile, has San Miguel Beer and Alaska as its last two assignments.
The Texters would not want to end up tied with the Meralco Bolts and the Purefoods Hotshots as they lost their elimination-round games to these teams.
They suffered a crucial blow in their bid in losing a triple-overtime battle against the Hotshots, 117-118, Saturday in Davao. (SB)
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