BOOSTED by a crucial win the last time out, Magnolia is out to clinch the No. 2 slot rewarded with a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals of the mid-season tourney against a Rain or Shine five bidding to forge a playoff for the last spot in the playoffs.
Which team’s goal will be realized will be known when the Hotshots take on the Elasto Painters today as the eliminations of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup end at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The match is set at 5:45 p.m. after defending champion San Miguel Beer, already assured of a quarterfinals berth, battles also-ran Meralco in the curtain-raiser at 3 o’clock.
“Our destiny is in our hands. We’ve got two games. We’ve handled Game 1 today and on Friday we’ll play Rain or Shine,” Magnolia assistant coach Jason Webb said after the squad trounced the Bolts 108-96 five days ago that hiked its mark to 9-2.
“It’s one thing to get that opportunity and it’s one thing to take care of business,” he added.
A loss by the Hotshots will drop them into a tie with Ginebra at 9-3 but the Kings will clinch the second seed due to the winner over the other rule. Ginebra tripped Magnolia 103-97 in their elims duel last Oct. 23.
Import Nick Rakocevic, Calvin Abueva, Jio Jalalon, Mark Barroca, Paul Lee, and Ian Sangalang will be counted upon anew by Magnolia to deliver.
Rain or Shine strategist Yeng Guiao is convinced his charges have what it takes to force a deciding match with NLEX on Sunday for the No. 8 slot.
“Mabigat iyong huling kalaban namin, iyong Magnolia. But gumaganda naman laro ng import namin. He’s playing better, he’s actually more efficient now, he’s rebounding better, mas gamay na niya mga kasama niya,” he said.
“May isang linggo kaming nag-prepare para sa Magnolia so gagawin namin ang makakaya namin para at least maganda ipakita naming laban.”
With a 5-6 card that included a 116-97 triumph over Blackwater last Friday, the Painters will pin their hopes on reinforcement Ryan Pearson, Rey Nambatac, Anton Asistio, Leonard Santillan, Gian Mamuyac, Andrei Caracut, Gabe Norwood, and Beau Belga.
The Beermen have notched three straight wins, including a 119-99 ripping of TNT six days ago.
SMB will be No. 5 in the quarterfinals by virtue of a 6-5 slate and, win or lose, next clashes with fourth-ranked Converge in a best-of-three battle.
Import Devon Scott, June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Vic Manuel, Marcio Lassiter, and Mo Tautua will carry the fight for SMB, which is also expected to have Terrence Romeo back after a long layoff due to a back injury.
Holding a 4-7 record, Meralco is aching to save some measure of pride in its last game of the conference and will lean on reinforcement KJ McDaniels, Allein Maliksi, Bong Quinto, Chris Banchero, and Aaron Black.
