Kelly Williams protects the ball against Mike Cortez. Photo by Nuki Sabio
MANILA, Philippines—Interesting matches close out elimination round action in the PBA Philippine Cup Sunday with Talk ‘N Text gunning for top spot in the quarterfinals against Barangay Ginebra at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
That game is slated at 6:30 p.m. with the Tropang Texters hoping to nail the No. 1 seed and the lightest possible assignment in the playoffs and the Gin Kings eyeing a possible No. 3 position with a win.
Rain or Shine battles also-ran Alaska in the 4:15 p.m. game with the Elasto Painters needing a win to avoid an early showdown against idle powerhouse Petron Blaze.
As things stand, Talk ‘N Text can lose this match and lose very little since finishing No. 2 behind idle B-Meg would also mean a twice-to-beat privilege in the first round of the playoffs against the No. 7 squad.
But that would mean a technically tougher foe in Barako Bull compared to No. 8, the youthful Powerade squad. And it would put sister squad Meralco, the No. 6 seed, into a collision course with Petron Blaze.
Ginebra can gain No. 3 with a win coupled by an Alaska upset of the Elasto Painters. In this scenario, the B-Boys will be tangling with the Gin Kings in a best-of-three series while pitting Rain or Shine against Petron in another.
The Llamados and the Texters have earned quarterfinal incentives last week and B-Meg will be tangling with Powerade in the event of a Talk ‘N Text loss, or with the Energy if the Texters win.
Should Rain or Shine and Ginebra both prevail, they will wind up tied at 9-5 and will finish Nos. 4 and 3 because of the quotient system and set up a quarterfinal clash with Petron and Meralco meeting in the other series.
Talk ‘N Text is expected to come with the same short-handed lineup that has defied the odds in the tournament.
Super rookie Paul Lee is expected back in action for the Painters, who have never made it to the semifinals since joining the league four years ago. Lee was hit by an Ogie Menor knee on the shin last week and was rushed to a nearby hospital immediately after. All tests were negative, however.