Wednesday, January 09, 2008 Barakos gun for semis vs. Coca Cola today
MANILA - The Red Bull Barakos will try to keep their hope for an outright semifinals berth alive when they face the Coca-Cola Tigers today in the resumption of the 2007 Smart-PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Red Bull, coming off a two-game slump, needs to win against the Asi Taulava-led Tigers in the first game at 4:50 p.m.
A win by the Barakos, who are currently at solo third with a 10-7 slate, will move them just a win away from second-front running and idle Sta. Lucia Realty.
The Realtors, which won’t have a game today, has an 11-6 card.
Only the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants thus far made it automatically to the best-of-seven semis after beating the Tigers, 101-87, last Friday to post their 12th win in 16 matches and kept the top spot even if they lose their last two elimination round assignments.
Red Bull is the only remaining team which has a chance to forge a playoff for the second automatic semis slot if it wins against the Tigers today and beats Purefoods next week, and Sta. Lucia loses to Air21 on Jan 13.
If both the Barakos and the Realtors finish the two-round elimination with identical 11-7 apiece, then a playoff will be played to determine the second semifinalist according to the conference format.
Both split their two meetings in the eliminations with the Barakos taking the first game, 100-94 last Nov. 2, but the Realtors got even with a 104-78 triumph in the second match last Dec. 14.
Air21 is also seeking to clinch solo 8th place when it meets cellar-dweller Welcoat Dragons in the second match at 7:20 p.m.
Meanwhile, the PBA board of governors will meet tomorrow to finally resolve the deadlock in the appointment between Atty. Chito Salud and Nextel executive Lambert Ramos for the position of commissioner.
PBA officer-in-charge Sonny Barrios expressed confidence the impasse will be immediately resolve so he can still have enough time to brief the new commissioner before he leaves for the US when the Philippine Cup folds up next month. (FCC)
