STRETCH OR SNAP
Rain or Shine and Purefoods Star continue to jockey for position in the Top Six as they face off in a crucial game in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.
The Elasto Painters pursue their bid for an outright semifinal entry while the Hotshots try to secure a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals as they slug it out at 5:15 p.m.
Both have recovered from a shaky start in the tourney, and both ride the crest of a four-game streak going to their much-awaited encounter.
A game up on Purefoods (5-3), Rain or Shine (6-2) is still very much in the running for the Top Two, but the Elasto Painters must produce good results in a killer stretch where they face the Hotshots, then the Alaska Aces and the Barangay Ginebra Kings.
“We’re still on our winning run, We’ve recovered from a bad start this conference and what we want to do is end this elims with a strong finish. Maybe, we can still make a run at an outright semis,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.
After splitting their first four games, the E-Painters strung up four straight wins over Barako Bull, GlobalPort, Meralco and NLEX.
Purefoods has recovered from a poorer start (1-3), rallying into strong contention for the Top Six with victories over NLEX, Blackwater, Meralco and Kia.
Already out of contention for the Top Two, Purefoods seeks to salvage a spot from No. 3 to No. 6 for a twice-to-beat advantage in stage one of the quarterfinals.
In the initial stage of the quarters, Teams 3-6 enjoy a “win-once” edge over Teams 7-10. The four winners then figure in a pair of knockout duels to determine the last two teams making the semis.
The Hotshots got a big relief the last time out, overcoming a pesky Kia team, 88-77.
“It was a crucial one,” said Purefoods coach Tim Cone. (SB)
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