Must-win match

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San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria said about two weeks ago, right in the middle of what is now a six-game winning streak in the PBA Philippine Cup, that he thinks the magic number for a top two berth in the playoffs is eight victories.

With a 7-1 record and on the cusp of his projection, Austria has put the do-or-die mentality in the minds of his Beermen when they clash with Rain or Shine at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay today in the main game of a regular doubleheader at 7 p.m.

Austria labeled it as a knockout match even with three games remaining in their elimination round schedule because they will be colliding with the Elasto Painters, the pursuer closest to the Beermen in the standings.

“There’s the winner-over-the-other rule (in case they end up tied for a top two spot),” Austria said over the phone on the way home after practice. “This is a KO game in our situation because right now, Rain or Shine is at No. 2.

“If we can beat them, then I think we are assured (of a top two berth, and a twice-to-beat quarterfinal privilege).”

Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia also has high hopes going into today’s match as a win would not only keep the Beermen within range, but the Painters would also be keeping GlobalPort and TNT—tied for third at the moment—at bay in the race for a twice-to-beat privilege.

But he wants to do just one thing against the Beermen, and that is to run at every given opportunity.

“We would want this game to be high-scoring,” Garcia said also after wrapping up practice. “We want our running game to be in full effect. If it’s offense versus offense, then so be it. If we can run, I think that’s our best chance (at winning) because we can tire out June Mar (Fajardo).”

Fajardo, the 6-foot-10 reigning three-time MVP, also has one less big man to contend with in the Rain or Shine defense with Raymund Almazan continuing to be in sick bay and adding to Garcia’s worries.