The PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals reel off tomorrow at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium with a doubleheader featuring No. 1 NLEX against No. 8 TNT and No. 4 Meralco taking on No. 5 Magnolia. It’s win or go home for the Tropang 5G and the Chicken Timplados Hotshots who’re in a twice-to-win bind. On Friday, the venue will be the Ynares Center Antipolo with No. 3 Rain or Shine facing No. 6 San Miguel Beer and No. 2 Barangay Ginebra engaging No. 7 Phoenix. ROS and Ginebra enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage.
Last Sunday’s results settled the final standings. Meralco could’ve gone up to No. 2 with a win over Magnolia as it had the highest quotient in a three-way tie with ROS and Ginebra. TNT would’ve vaulted to No. 6 if it beat Ginebra with a superior quotient over SMB. The Magnolia-Meralco tussle turned out to be a prelude to their quarterfinal matchup. For the Hotshots to survive and qualify for the semis, they’ll need to beat the Bolts twice more. That means counting last Sunday’s outcome, Magnolia must defeat Meralco thrice in a row.
NLEX is coming off four straight wins but it won’t be easy turning back TNT. With Bol Manute Bol in harness and coach Chot Reyes calling the shots, the Tropang 5G’s chances to win twice aren’t remote. In the elims, TNT downed NLEX, 103-97 with Bol compiling 40 points and 15 rebounds.
In the previous conference, two teams with a twice-to-win handicap upset the odds and advanced to the semis. No. 5 Ginebra took out No. 4 Converge while No. 7 Meralco struck out No. 2 ROS. TNT, Phoenix, SMB and Magnolia hope to follow in their footsteps.
Ginebra has won seven of its last eight outings and is piping hot with coach Tim Cone unveiling a second unit that’s earning more minutes. With Japeth Aguilar back in circulation, Troy Rosario now comes off the bench. Other relievers whom Cone can count on are Ralph Cu, Norbert Torres, Isaac Go, Nards Pinto, Miah Gray and Kemark Carino. Phoenix has lost two in a row and in the elims, bowed to Ginebra. Coach Charles Tiu said Ricci Rivero and Kai Ballungay are questionable for Friday but Jason Perkins and Ef Escandor, who both sat out the Fuel Masters’ game last Saturday, are good to go.
ROS was bushwhacked by Meralco in the previous quarters and coach Yeng Guiao is still smarting from frittering away a twice-to-beat advantage. ROS got off to a 7-0 start this conference but has since dropped three of its last five. ROS can’t afford to play footsies with SMB. Since Bennie Boatwright’s return, SMB has won four of its last five and the only loss was to Blackwater. ROS is No. 1 in offense, assists, rebounds, fastbreak points, turnover points and bench points but if Guiao’s troops aren’t able to dictate tempo, SMB has the tools to break down any kind of defense. The quarterfinal matchups aren’t only dream-like, they’re also intriguing.