CRITICAL games will be on display as teams fight for the remaining quarterfinal berths in the homestretch and final day of the elimination round of the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup.
All four teams playing face must-win situations as their fate banks on how they will do tonight.
GlobalPort (5-5) and Phoenix (4-6) will figure in a heated battle at 4:30 p.m., even as Rain or Shine (6-4) and Barangay Ginebra (5-5) tango in a pivotal encounter at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Of these four teams, the Elasto Painters are the safest as they’ve already secured a spot in the top eight, but want to get better placing while the other three squads are in dire need of wins to help their chances of making it in the next round.
Rain or Shine is looking to finish in the middle and avoid a disadvantageous position entering the quarters.
The Batang Pier and the Gin Kings both need a win to secure spots in the quarters, while the Fuel Masters will be fighting for survival as a defeat will send them packing.
It’s simple for GlobalPort and Ginebra. A win for them against their respective foes will give them slots in the quarters, while a setback will put them in a dangerous situation.
“Hawak pa naman namin ‘yung kapalaran namin so we have to work hard to win,” said GlobalPort coach Pido Jarencio.
Phoenix can still earn a playoff for a seat in the quarterfinals if it wins.
As of now, five teams have already punched tickets in the quarters namely San Miguel Beer, Magnolia, Alaska, NLEX and Rain or Shine.
For the three remaining berths, five teams are vying for spots as Ginebra, GlobalPort, TNT KaTropa, Phoenix and Blackwater all want to make it through and avoid an early vacation.
Obviously, the results of the games today will have huge implications on how the quarterfinal cast will be completed.
The dust will eventually settle following these scheduled final games.
Should there be any playoff game, it will be played on Sunday.
Otherwise, if GlobalPort and Ginebra both win, the post-season will start right away on Sunday as the quarterfinal cast would be complete in that case.
