Beermen eye top seed vs TNT
Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
For San Miguel Beer, it’s about putting one foot into the semifinals.
For Tropang TNT, it’s about staying in contention for the same goal.
The Beermen seek top seeding in the quarterfinals while the Texters fight for a playoff crack at No. 2 spot as the two teams clash in what could well be a slam-bang showdown at the close of the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup elimination round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday night.
The two teams slug it out at 7 p.m. with a win by the Beermen easing out any complication in the race for the Top Two spots.
A win by TNT, on the other hand, forges jam at No. 2 — possibly four-way among TNT, SMB, Barangay Ginebra and Rain or Shine or five-way with Alaska Milk joining the mix.
Any which way, the Texters will get a playoff crack on a superior quotient.
A loss to SMB could pose a great danger for the Texters as it could relegate them all the way down to No. 7.
“It’s a big game to have a chance for the Top Two,” said TNT coach Jong Uichico, hinting at his troops going all out to nail the crucial win.
It’s as crucial for the Beermen.
With a 26-point blowout by the Barangay Ginebra Kings, the Beermen can’t afford to figure in a tie to be resolved by a quotient system of tiebreak.
A loss will drop San Miguel out of the Top Two, and thus misses the coveted twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
“It’s a virtual playoff match,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria of their duel with TNT.
San Miguel has recovered from its 84-110 drubbing by Ginebra, bouncing back with back-to-back wins over NLEX (131-127 in triple-overtime) and Phoenix Petroleum (121-109).
TNT, meanwhile, is riding the momentum of four straight victories over NLEX, Rain or Shine, Ginebra and Mahindra going to its big game against San Miguel.
Ranidel de Ocampo is set to return from a one-game layoff.
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