Gloves off as Philippine Cup playoffs begin

MANILA, Philippines — The gloves are off as the survivors of the nearly eight weeks of intense, often grueling eliminations action take the fight to next level in the PBA Philippine Cup playoffs today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

First up are third seed Magnolia, owner of a hot seven-game streak, and No. 6 NLEX, the ever-tough squad in search of its breakthrough, searching a 1-0 head start in a best-of-three quarterfinal contest.

Set for an equally incendiary entanglement are No. 4 Barangay Ginebra and No. 5 Meralco, the protagonists of the Governors’ Cup finals who renew their rivalry in a race-to-two dispute for a semifinal ticket in the season-opening meet.

Ginebra activated No. 2 pick Jeremiah Gray for the playoffs.

The Hotshots and the Road Warriors fire the opening salvo at 4:30 p.m. before the Bolts and the Gin Kings hit the battlefield at 6:30 p.m.

The Bolts are out to preserve a string of consecutive Final Four appearances currently running at four conferences. But they have to do it against a familiar foe, who thwarted them in four previous Governors’ Cup title showdowns and one semis confrontation in the 2020 All-Filipino bubble in Clark.

“It’s going to be a hard quarterfinals. They have the pieces, they’re going to be well-coached. But nothing’s better for us than being in that type of atmosphere – you have the crowd, people are talking about it, you have to be there,” said Meralco assistant Luigi Trillo, who has been calling the shots while coach Norman Black is in the US for family matters.

“We have been with coach Norman four straight semis and the goal is to bring our A-game, give our very best to make the semis again.”

The Bolts hope to draw extra confidence from their 90-73 drubbing of the Gin Kings 11 days ago.

Meanwhile, the Hotshots look to stay hot versus the Road Warriors, who themselves are riding a two-game roll ahead of the quarters tipoff.

“It’s a 50-50 chance in this series. It’s all about preparation and mindset. Hopefully, maging maganda ang performance namin,” said Magnolia mentor Chito Victolero.

“Maganda ngayon, kumpleto kami and we have momentum and right attitude going to the playoffs.”

NLEX coach Yeng Guiao said regardless of the seeding, the team is happy to get to the best-of-three.

“Sixth seed o third seed, parehas lang yan kung incentive ang pag-uusapan. 0-0 kayo pareho mag-start,” he said.

The other four quarters pairings fire off on Wednesday yet. Top seed San Miguel and No. 2 TNT hold twice-to-beat advantage against No. 8 Blackwater and No. 7 Converge, respectively.