Aces seek playoff berth vs Bulls

Alaska Milk battles slumping Red Bull today, seeking a repeat win that will guarantee the Uytengsu franchise a playoff crack at an outright quarterfinals berth in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup.

Rain or Shine and Talk n Text likewise try to close in on a seat in the Magic Five as they clash in the other game at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Aces are gunning for their 11th win against four defeats in their 5 p.m. encounter with the Bulls, who are also going all out to stop a long losing skein spanning five weeks.

Red Bull has not won a game since edging Talk n Text, 104-102, last Oct. 29, dropping eight straight games for the franchise’s worst skid.

With a 3-11 (win-loss) card, the Bulls are now in danger of missing the playoffs. The Photokina Marketing franchise has never finished outside the top four in all conferences the last three seasons.

“The disparity of the two teams (Alaska and Red Bull) in the standings is not reflective of how game will proceed. You should always be scared of a Yeng Guiao-coached team. As much as they have struggled lately, their history tells you they are a winning organization. We expect this game to be our toughest of the conference,” said Alaska coach Tim Cone.

Alaska leads the race for top honors in the double-round elimination phase with a 10-4 card, followed by San Miguel and Rain or Shine at 9-6, Talk n Text at 8-6 then Air21 at 8-7.

The top two gain automatic entry into the semifinals, the next three outright passage into the quarterfinals and the next four left to dispute the last quarters slot on a series of knockout tussles. The last placer is out of the playoffs.

The Elasto Painters are now assured of a first-ever stint in the post-elims plays. They can even gain automatic semis entry should they sustain their searing romp.

“The opportunity is there, so we’ll try to take it,” said Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia.

The Elasto Painters are again up against the Tropang Texters in a contest pitting the exciting rookies of both teams.