Race for No. 2 heats up

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

With five playing days to go in the elimination round, TNT KaTropa and GlobalPort clash in a crucial match Wednesday, with the winner assuring itself of a place in the quarterfinals while at the same time bolstering its bid for the second twice-to-beat privilege in the first round of the playoffs.

Tip-off is at 7 p.m. at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay, and the stakes are clear for both: Win to move on.

Although the loser would still have a game in hand to qualify for the quarterfinals, advancing as a seventh or eighth seed practically means the death knell because they would go up against a foe with a twice-to-beat advantage.

“There’s no doubt that this is a must-win game for us,” GlobalPort coach Franz Pumaren said. “We need [to win] this game if we want to contend for a playoff berth.”

San Miguel Beer, the powerhouse defending champion, has already secured No. 1 ranking and is just waiting to see who will be No. 8. The Beermen would need to beat that team just once to advance to the Final Four.

The race for No. 2 has already heated up with idle Phoenix Petroleum having the inside track with a 6-4 record, although several teams will be able to tie the Fuel Masters, including the winner of the TNT-GlobalPort game.

Rain or Shine and Alaska are also at 5-4 and the Aces could grab that inside track from the Fuel Masters with a win over Phoenix this Friday also at Cuneta Astrodome.

The Elasto Painters, meanwhile, will have the Batang Pier and the Aces as their last foes, while the Texters close out against the Beermen this Saturday at Ynares Center in Antipolo.

For those with 5-4 records, the best thing to do is to win their last two games and then be prepared to play in a you-or-me game—or even games—for the second twice-to-beat privilege.

Star also still has a shot at ending up with a 7-4 slate with three outings left counting its 4:15 p.m. clash with a Blackwater side that is also in dire need of a win to assure safe passage into the quarterfinals.

The Hotshots have a fairly lighter schedule compared to the others still in contention for No. 2, with Meralco and Mahindra coming up for them.

“We are looking at our last three games as playoff games already,” said Star coach Chito Victolero.”

The quotient system will come into play in case of multiple ties for No. 2, so winning, and winning big, is important for all the teams seeing action in the final five playdates of the elimination round.