Beermen, Hotshots pursue playoff berths

Games today (MOA Arena)

4:30 p.m. – San Miguel vs Blackwater

7 p.m. – Magnolia vs NLEX

MANILA, Philippines — Titleholder San Miguel Beer and Magnolia take on eliminated rivals as they step up their playoff drive at the resumption of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City tonight.

The Beermen shoot for an outright Final Eight berth as they tangle with the Blackwater Elite at 4:30 p.m. while the Hotshots eye an automatic playoff shot at the last quarterfinals slot against the Road Warriors at 7 p.m.

NLEX, with a 2-8 win-loss record, and Blackwater, at 1-9, are long out of the playoff race.

San Miguel is at 5-4 while Magnolia is at 4-5 going into their last two games. Curiously, they face one another in the final game of the elims Saturday over at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Both the Hotshots and the Road Warriors show up for their matchup with new imports in tow.

The Hotshots hope to salvage a spot in the playoff round with the help of veteran PBA import Wayne Chism whom they tapped to replace Justin Jackson.

Interestingly, Chism’s first game with the Hotshots will be against his former team NLEX which, for its part, introduces Olu Ashaolu.

The Hotshots actually got off to a strong start with Vernon Macklin but struggled with import subs Curtis Kelly and Jackson. Macklin had to leave to attend a commitment in the Chinese league.