Welcoat Paints, currently at third spot with a 6-4 win-loss slate, collides with Ateneo-Pioneer Insurance at 2 p.m., hoping to join defending champion Shark Energy Drink and Blu Detergents, both having identical 7-4 records, in second place behind pacesetting ICTSI-La Salle.
Jockeying for position against the Insurers with identical 4-6 cards, on the other hand, are Ana Freezers and Kutitap Toothpaste, which share fifth place with Ateneo at 4-6. They tangle with each other at 4 p.m., hoping to boost their respective quarterfinal bids before the league takes a long holiday break.
Games resume on Jan. 5.
Welcoat coach Junel Baculi vows to go all out to beat Ateneo-Pioneer, which beat his team, 72-67, last Dec. 4.
"Ang target talaga namin ngayon ay bawian lahat ng tumalo sa amin sa first round," said Baculi. "Isa na ang Ateneo-Pioneer sa mga team na gusto naming bawian."
Like the Paint Masters, the Freezer Makers are also raring to avenge their 66-79 defeat to the Teeth Sparklers in their first meeting last Nov. 22.
But Ana, handled by the father-and-son coaching tandem of Rudy and Paolo Mendoza, recovered in time to topple Blu, 96-83.
ICTSI-La Salle bowed to Shark, 55-59, Thursday but remained at the helm with a 7-3 slate. — Joey Villar