Petron, Ginebra chase second PBA title slot

MANILA—Talk N’ Text, with the Grand Slam pretty much in sight, plays the role of executioner for one and savior for the other as the semifinal round of the PBA Governor’s Cup comes to a close Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

The Tropang Texters have the luxury of picking its foe in the best-of-seven title series that starts on Sunday, with a win over Petron in their 5:35 p.m. clash eliminating the Boosters and opening the doors for two others still in the running.

Barangay Ginebra, Petron’s sister squad, slugs it out with ousted Rain or Shine in the 7:45 p.m. game with the Gin Kings’ fate depending largely on how the first game goes.

A victory by the Gin Kings would shove Ginebra into the Finals only if the Texters, who qualified a few days ago, play hard enough and beat the Boosters.

Otherwise, Petron will advance by virtue of a superior quotient, having defeated the Kings in two games this conference.

Alaska, which reached eight wins ahead of the Boosters and the Kings, would be left out in the cold in the event of victories by either squad. The Aces’ only chance is for both Petron and Ginebra to lose.

In the event of a Petron loss and a Ginebra win, the Kings would march on by virtue of a 1.02 conference quotient compared to the Aces’ 1.01.

The quotient was computed based on all the games played this conference since Alaska and Ginebra split their only two meetings in the tournament.

Petron will come into the game against the Texters possibly without three mainstays in Joseph Yeo, starting guard Alex Cabagnot and super rookie Rabeh Al-Hussaini.

Cabagnot sat out the Boosters’ last game because of a swollen left arm, Yeo has been out for weeks, while Al-Hussaini, the hands-down Rookie of the Year choice, limped out of the first quarter against B-Meg on Wednesday with a feared ACL tear.

The Texters have been playing great in the semifinals, with Scottie Reynolds, the Villanova alum, leading the way for a hard-working local crew that seems to be up to the challenge of completing just the league’s fifth triple crown sweep.

Donald Sloan will banner Ginebra, which will be clashing with a side that blew control of making the title series for the first time in franchise history.

Rain or Shine needed to sweep its final two games to make the championship playoff but stumbled horribly against the Aces also Wednesday night, 85-91.