Meralco, Star, TnT to press q’final drive

MANILA, Philippines -  Meralco, Star and TNT KaTropa press their bid for the key twice-to-beat incentives in the quarterfinals while GlobalPort fights for survival as they figure in a crucial twinbill in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the MOA Arena in Pasay City tonight.

The Bolts try to solidify their front-running position while the Batang Pier hope to check their skid in their 4:15 p.m. faceoff while the Hotshots and the Texters break their standoff at second place in the 7 p.m. main game.

Star brings back Ricardo Ratliffe while GlobalPort unveils a new import Justin Harper in this pair of matches after which the tourney will take a brief break again to give way to the staging of the SEABA Championship on May 12-18 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Meralco (7-1), Star (6-2), TNT (6-2), Barangay Ginebra (5-1) and San Miguel Beer (5-1) have clinched outright playoff berths. But the five teams look headed for a tough, down-to-the-wire finish in the race for the Top Two that reward the “win-once” advantage in the quarters.

“The game against GlobalPort will be difficult to gauge because they have new local players and a new import. We will just go out, play hard and try to pick up a win,” said Meralco coach Norman Black in taking on the GlobalPort team featuring new trade acquisitions Jonathan Grey, Sean Anthony and Bradwyn Guinto.

Harper, a former Orlando Magic, Detroit Piston and Philadelphia Sixer, is coming in to take over from Malcolm White.

The Hotshots and the Texters slug it out in a much-anticipated showdown where the former bring back old import Ratliffe, fresh from a tour of duty in the Korean league where he powered the Seoul Samsung Thunders to a runner-up finish.

With Ratliffe taking over from Tony Mitchell, the Hotshots have some adjustments to make but so do the Texters.

It’s a surprise move for the Hotshots considering that they have performed well with Mitchell.

Star coach Chito Victolero said they’re happy with the performance of Mitchell, and it just so happened that their original choice is available now.

Ratfliffe, Star’s import replacement to Denzel Bowles in the same conference last year, flew in from Seoul Friday and had his first practice session with the Hotshots Sunday.

“We have no problem with Tony. We just have to make a choice now that Ricardo is free from his obligation in Korea. We go to Ricardo who was our original choice,” said Victolero.

Mitchell led the Hotshots to a strong start in the tourney with his averages of 21.25 points, 14.38 rebounds 1.7 assists, 2.8 blocks and 1.0 steals.

He’s only downside was he’s being a foul-prone player.

“We have no problem even with that. We survived even when he was in foul trouble situation. I just really feel Ricardo will fit better in our team,” said Victolero.

In taking over from Bowles last year, Ratliffe rallied the Hotshots back into contention. Star subsequently made the quarterfinals where, as the eighth-ranked team, it narrowly upset top seed San Miguel Beer.