Frontrunners TNT KaTropa and NorthPort look to move closer to securing the top two seeds as they face separate rivals in the continuing 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup elimination round.
Currently the league’s hottest team and top seed, the Tropang Texters (7-1) shoot for a sixth straight victory when they cross paths with hot and cold Rain or Shine (3-4) at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.
In the appetizer, the Batang Pier (7-2) aims on getting back on track when it faces dangerous Columbian (2-6) at 4:30 p.m.
The top two teams at the end of the elimination round will earn a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals against lower seeded foes.
Both already in the quarters, TNT and NorthPort are both looking good to finish in the top two.
A victory for both will put them in an even better position to seal the top two rankings.
TNT, who will be coming fresh from a 12-day break, is ready to resume what it has been doing in its five-game winning streak.
“Our players are playing well for each other that’s why we’re getting all these wins,” said TNT coach Bong Ravena. “We still need a win or two to secure our spot in the top two so we are going for that.”
The Tropang Texters last floored Columbian, 109-102, last June 21.
On the other hand, Rain or Shine, who still has not secured of a berth in the quarters, will be coming off a loss, dropping its last assignment to NLEX, 100-97, last Friday.
NorthPort, currently in second, plans on keeping its spot.
After losing to Phoenix, 97-87, last Wednesday, the Batang Pier now looks forward to return to its winning ways to also improve its chances further of ending up in the top two.
“We’re going for the top two. We played badly in our last game, kailangan bumawi,” said Batang Pier coach Pido Jarencio.
NorthPort will face a rejuvenated Dyip side, who pulled off a stunning 134-132 overtime win over powerhouse San Miguel last Sunday.