CALVIN Abueva has been Alaska’s most consistent gunner and is expected to lead the Aces against Rain or Shine. JILSON SECKLER TIU
Alaska tries to nail an automatic Final Four slot again today when the Aces battle yet another formidable foe in Rain or Shine as the PBA Philippine Cup eliminations enters its home stretch at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
After getting knocked out of the lead for the first time in the tournament on Tuesday by Barangay Ginebra, the Aces will try to pick up the pieces in their 4:15 p.m. clash with the hot Elasto Painters.
Rain or Shine has won its last five games despite a decimated lineup, and coach Yeng Guiao is expected to have more than 10 healthy men today with national team gunner Jeff Chan slated to return.
San Miguel Beer also shoots for an outright semifinal slot against Talk ‘N Text in the 7 p.m. contest with the Beermen seeking to match the tournament’s longest winning streak of six games that was first pulled off by the Aces.
The Tropang Texters will be coming off a hard 100-94 overtime win over defending champion Purefoods on Wednesday night and with faint hopes of booking a top-two finish for an automatic Final Four slot.
As things stand, the Beermen have a foot inside the door already as they close out against Blackwater on Tuesday, while the Texters, even with a win, must hope for a Ginebra victory over the Elasto Painters on Sunday to tie for second.
The Aces have not lost back-to-back games all season long.
Aside from Blackwater, fellow newcomer KIA Motors got the boot as well after losing to Meralco, 99-93, also on Wednesday.
By losing to the Texters, the Star Hotshots now need to win their last game against Globalport, and hope that Ginebra beats Rain or Shine to qualify in the upper half of the bracket.
Advancing in the bottom half carries a distinct disadvantage as that would mean beating a higher-ranked foe two straight times to advance to the second phase of the quarterfinals where another KO match awaits.
Wins by Alaska and San Miguel Beer would settle the race for the top two.
Calvin Abueva has been the only consistent man for the Aces, who have gotten different people to step up each time.
Rain or Shine is getting the most out of Paul Lee, who is seeing extended minutes because of the many injuries that have hit coach Yeng Guiao’s guard rotation.
Against the Hotshots, Guiao got reserve guards TY Tang and Jonathan Uyloan to step up in the endgame to bail the Painters out.