SECOND-seed Rain or Shine faces No. 7 Air 21, while third-seed Alaska battles No. 6 Ginebra today in the 39th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governor’s Cup quarterfinal round at the Araneta Coliseum.
After the fierce elimination round, Talk ‘N Text clinched the top spot with a 7-2 win-loss slate followed by the Elasto Painters with 6-3 card, while five teams, led by Alaska, San Mig Coffee, San Miguel Beer, Ginebra and Air 21, finished with similar 5-4 card, which was resolved through a quotient tie-break system.
Barako Bull, which also tied Meralco at 3-6 record, made it to the next round via the winner-over-the-other rule.
Only Meralco and Globalport (1-8) bowed out from the contest.
“There is very little rest for players in the playoffs. It’s very interesting that Air 21 is gonna be a handful for us. This is my chance to redeem myself in terms of being able to help my team playing against them (Express). They’re a big team, we have problems with big teams because we’re a small team. We have a small import so that Asi (Taulava) and Sutton (Dominique) will be a problem. We just have to deny them touches at the low post,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao, whose Arizona Reid is one of the shortest import at 6’4.”
Talk ‘N Text (1) was still facing Barako Bull (8) and San Mig Coffee (4) was still meeting San Miguel Beermen (5) in the other quarterfinal matches at press-time.
The winner between the Tropang Texters and Barako Energy Cola will face the victor between the Coffee Mixers and the Beermen in the best-of-five semifinal round, while the Elasto Painters and the Express tangle for the right to face the winner between Ginebra and Alaska in the other semis match.