Beermen, Kings shoot for playoff perks

MANILA, Philippines — With other quarterfinals-bound squads intently watching, the PBA Philippine Cup elimination round comes to an explosive conclusion today at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

The last two twice-to-beat incentives will be on the line in the double-header that will ultimately determine the final pairing in the coming playoffs.

Holding identical 7-3 win-loss cards, third-running San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra have the inside track among those in pursuit of spots in the “Magic 4” alongside NLEX (8-3) and Magnolia (8-3).

The Beermen and the Gin Kings just need to hurdle their final opponents in the preliminaries, NorthPort (2-8) and Rain or Shine (6-4), respectively, to outright claim the remaining win-once bonuses.

For SMB, a winning result at 5 p.m. against the also-ran but dangerous Batang Pier will lead to No. 1 seeding as it holds a superior quotient in case of a triple tie with the Road Warriors and the Hotshots or even a four-way logjam with the Gin Kings tagging along. This will set the Beermen up with a slambang duel with No. 8 Meralco (6-5), their conquerors in the last season’s finale, in the Last 8.

But a loss to upset-conscious NorthPort coupled with a Ginebra victory over Rain or Shine in the 7:30 p.m. showdown will drop the Beermen to No. 5, facing a twice-to-win disadvantage.