Meralco’s sights are set on 4th place in the Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals
Games on Tuesday
(Ninoy Aquino Stadium)
5:15 pm – Macau vs Blackwater
7:30 pm – Meralco vs San Miguel
AS the tickets for the quarterfinals of the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup are now down to five, the onus is on the shoulders of the teams outside the three qualifiers to make their big move.
Sitting in fourth place, Meralco looks to take a step forward by increasing its record to 6-2 on Tuesday against a San Miguel Beermen (4-5) team that is determined to retain its spot in the Magic 8.
After last week’s game, Rain or Shine (8-1) runner-up NLEX (7-2) and 3 Ginebra (7-2) sealed their seats in the Last 8.
This marquee match at 7:30 pm at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium is important as well as the Bolts’ attempt to enter the Top 4 with double the advantage of being beaten compared to lower ranked opponents.
The loss will drop Meralco to fifth place at 5-3, dropping number 4 to TNT (6-3).
For the Beermen, it’s very important that you catch the seventh solo at the moment and the 5-5 slide, get more breathing room against the No. 8 Magnolia (4-5) and chasers Converge (4-6), Terrafirma (3-6), Titan (2-7), Blackwater (2-7) and Macau (1-8).
Bossing can get its third W if it takes care of business against the barrel-dwelling Black Knights in the 5:15 pm curtain-raiser.
Reigning Philippine Cup champion SMB stumbled in their last game, losing what should have been a routine win against Blackwater, 120-126.
That has put the Beermen in a critical position where they will need to stop the Bolts on Tuesday, then the Dyip and the Fuel Masters to ensure a smooth progression or fight for a qualifying bonus.
“We’re in contention (but) we need to beat these three teams,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria, whose team aims to overcome a poor start brought on by import problems before Bennie Boatwright’s PBA return.
Like San Miguel, Muralco endured a rough patch in its last outing, losing 101-104 in overtime to NLEX on a tough Ljay Gonzales game, and enters Tuesday’s game with more determination to bounce back.
Notes: Barangay Ginebra will not rush the return of Japeth Aguilar after sustaining “pneumomediastinum” or air in the chest due to a bad fall in their 115-108 win over Blackwater last April 24. Coach Tim Cone said Mr. “He is out of danger and clearly not strong,” said Mr. Cone. “(But) I think he doubts about the upcoming games when we play on Friday and Sunday,” he said, referring to Ginebra’s big games against Maralco and Rain or Shine, respectively. “We don’t have a time frame for when he’ll be back in the lineup and ready to play. Hopefully we’ll put together a game plan to get him back in the lineup.” – Olmin Leyba
