Games on Wednesday
(Ynares Center Antipolo)
5:15 p.m. – San Miguel vs NLEX
7:30 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Magnolia
Team Standings
Group A
*NLEX 9-2
*San Miguel 8-3
*Converge 8-4
*TNT 7-5
Terrafirma 5-7
Titan 2-10
Macau 2-10
Group B
*Magnolia 6-3
*Rain or Shine 5-3
*Phoenix 5-4
Ginebra 4-5
Meralco 4-6
Blackwater 3-6
*clinched quarterfinals
WIN OR LOSE, no one can take away their reserved seats in the PBA Governors’ Cup playoffs anymore.
But don’t expect Group A’s NLEX (9-2) and San Miguel Beermen (SMB) (8-3) and Group B’s Magnolia (6-3) and Rain or Shine (ROS) (5-3) to slack off one bit as they tackle unfinished business in the preliminaries.
They have several reasons to still go hard in Wednesday’s double-header at Ynares Center Antipolo.
There’s the prestige of grabbing the No. 1 seeding, which sets up a best-of-five duel with the fourth-seeded quarterfinalist from the other group.
There’s opportunity to gauge themselves against a topnotch opponent and fine-tune ahead of the bigger battles ahead.
And of course, there’s the “respect for the game” factor.
“I think it’s one of the best games that you can play before the playoffs kasi you’re playing against a champion team, a team that has dominated here in the PBA for quite some time,” Road Warriors coach Jimmy Alapag said of the 5:15 p.m. duel with reigning Philippine Cup champion SMB.
“So, it will be a great test for our guys as we prepare for the quarterfinals.”
Beermen counterpart Leo Austria emphasizes the importance of keeping the winning culture.
“Whatever happens, kahit No. 1 or No. 2, we should be okay pero we’d still be going for a win kasi, sabi ko nga sa team, always go for the win, kahit no-bearing, para ’yung sharpness hindi mawala,” he added.
Hotshots mentor LA Tenorio values momentum for his charges, who have been on a five-game rampage prior to the big duel with playoffs regular ROS.
“It’s another challenge for us. Parang kami dito ‘yung naghahabol sa mga big teams para going to the playoffs, maganda ang momentum namin,” he said.
Elasto Painters tactician Yeng Guiao said they’re not much concerned about their final seeding.
“May two games kami, gagawin namin i-prove lang sarili namin sa two games na ‘yun,” he said referring to Magnolia at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday and another quarters-bound team, Phoenix (5-4) on Friday. — Olmin Leyba