TWO teams in the middle and two in the bottom half plunge into action in hopes of improving their standing in the ongoing 2016-17 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup.
TNT KaTropa and Phoenix, two teams tied in the middle with similar 2-2 cards, test each other’s mettle at 4:15 p.m. in the opening game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.
Right after, struggling squads Barangay Ginebra (1-2) and cellar-dweller Mahindra Floodbuster (0-4) battle each other at 7 p.m. Both teams face a must-win situation to avoid being buried deeper in the ladder.
Through four games, the Tropang Texters and the Fuel Masters suffered the exact same fate.
They lost their opening assignments, won their next two before once again suffering defeats in their last assignments.
Now, they get to challenge each other to see who moves up in the upper echelon and who sinks down the lower draw.
TNT KaTropa was stunned by sister team Meralco, 98-87, last week while Phoenix suffered the same fate after it was demolished by Star, 123-79, in a lopsided affair last Saturday.
In the nightcap, the Gin Kings and the Floodbuster, both looking to avoid elimination, hope to gain their winning groove.
Ginebra was torched by GlobalPort, 91-84, last Sunday, while Mahindra came close to notching its first win before eventually bowing to defending champion San Miguel Beer, 94-91, also on the same day.