Aces, Painters in crucial PBA tiff

Jeff Chan of Rain or SHine (dark) vs Vic Manuel and Gabby Espinas of Alaska (light). PBA IMAGES

Alaska and Rain or Shine clash today in a match that could determine the second automatic semifinalist in the Smart Bro-PBA Philippine Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Victory for the Aces, who tote a 7-1 record on the strength of a four-game winning streak, against the Elasto Painters (6-2) in the 7 p.m. contest could also sew up the first outright Final Four slot for idle defending champion and pacesetter San Miguel Beer (8-1).

It’s been so tight at the top right from the start and the top three placers will not be determined until all the remaining games are done with.

The picture gets muddled up if the Elasto Painters prevail since the Aces are also due to slug it out with the Beermen on Wednesday.

Rain or Shine, which will come into the game still licking the wounds of a listless effort against the TNT Tropang Texters over the weekend, has lighter foes—Meralco and NLEX —for its last two games.

But the same cannot be said of the Aces, the losing finalists to the Beermen here last season.

Aside from San Miguel, Alaska will also have to contend with Barako Bull.

A Rain or Shine victory coupled by an Alaska decision over San Miguel Beer next week will make every remaining game count as teams shoot for that outright Final Four berth to be able to rest battered bodies for the playoffs.

Barako Bull (4-4) battles Blackwater (1-7) in the 4:15 p.m. game hoping to stay on track for a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals. The Energy would need to sweep their last three games to assure themselves of a spot in the upper half of the bracket.