MANILA - Sister teams San Miguel Beer and B-Meg Derby Ace battle for the second outright semis berth, while Ginebra and Rain or Shine dispute the last automatic quarterfinal slot in two playoff matches of the 35th Philippine
Basketball Association (PBA) Fiesta Conference at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium tonight.
Both the Beermen and the Llamados ended the double-round elimination with identical 13-5 records so the winner of their 7:30 p.m. encounter will join top team Talk ‘N Text in the semifinal round.
The loser will finish third and claim the first outright quarterfinal berth.
The Elasto Painters and the Kings completed their elimination round assignments with similar 9-9 card so whichever wins tonight occupies the fifth position and earns the last outright quarterfinal seat. The loser drops to the wildcard phase.
The other quartertinalist was Alaska, which finished with an 11-7 record for solo fourth.
The format of the import-laden conference, won by San Miguel Beer last year, have the top two teams getting the outright semis berth while the Nos. 3 to 5 advance to the quarterfinals.
Nos. 6 to 9 will be in the knockout wildcard phase. Only the last team, Barako at 3-15, bows out of contention.
Teams in the wild card phase are Coca-Cola (8-10), Sta. Lucia Realty (5-13) and Air 21 (4-14) battling for the remaining quarterfinal berth in the wildcard.