Kings, Texters fight for No. 1

MANILA, Philippines - TNT KaTropa and Barangay Ginebra, marquee ball clubs of corporate rivals the MVP Group and San Miguel Corp., provide a climactic end in the PBA Governors Cup eliminations as they face off for No. 1 finish at the Alonte Sports Center in Biñan, Laguna tonight.

The Tropang Texters and the Gin Kings fight for pride and top seeding in the quarterfinals as they clash in a virtual playoff duel at 6:45 p.m.

San Miguel Beer, another SMC top team assured of a Top Four finish, breaks in old import Elijah Millsap as the Beermen tangle with the Blackwater Elite in the first game at 4:30 p.m.

TNT (9-1), Ginebra (8-2) and San Miguel (7-3) are all guaranteed of spots in the Top Four and the twice-to-beat reward in the quarterfinals. But they only find their final playoff seedings after their matches tonight.

“It’s still a crucial game for both teams,” said TNT coach Jong Uichico.

“I don’t think either team is going to give an inch. It could turn out to be the best non-bearing game in history,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.

The winner in the Ginebra-TNT tussle advances to the quarters versus the last seed which is either Rain or Shine or Phoenix Petroleum. The E-Painters and the Fuel Masters knock each other out for the last quarters slot at the Big Dome on Wednesday.

A win by Ginebra forges a tie with TNT at No. 1 at 9-2. In that scenario, the Gin Kings take playoff top seeding via the winner-over-the-other rule.

The Texters, however, will surely come out strong to avoid a quarterfinals matchup with MVP Group sister ball club NLEX.

Meanwhile, the Gin Kings are also likely to go all out to avoid a possible semifinal collision with the San Miguel Beermen.

Thus, the Texters and the Gin Kings could really figure in a fierce showdown in the final game of the single-round-robin elims.

TNT is also out to complete a coast-to-coast domination of the elims while Ginebra is out to steal the thunder on a possible five-game closing romp.