The Laundry Experts, currently at 2-2, face a must-win situation against the Paint Experts in their 5:45 p.m. encounter.
If they lose, they get a crack at the semis only if Skyland Estate loses its last two outings.
In this scenario, a three-way tie will ensue among Mr. Wash-FEU, Skyland Estate and Maynila. The team with the highest quotient qualifies into the next round.
Thus, Skyland Estate is also expected to go all-out as it tangles with Mercury Freight-St. Benilde at 4 p.m.
The Estate Builders must hurdle their last two games, the last against Maynila on Jan. 7 to gain outright entry into the semis.
Mercury Freight-St. Benilde needs only one more win to clinch a semis slot. In the other game at 2:15 p.m., it will be Gringo-Barkadahan against University of Assumption Pelicans.