4 teams seek last slots in wildcard playoffs

MANILA, Philippines - The 2010 PBA Fiesta Conference playoffs begin in earnest today, featuring four teams in a double knockout to start the wildcard plays at the Araneta Coliseum.

Rain or Shine, which narrowly missed an outright quarterfinals entry, and Air21, which barely made the last cut, clash at 6:30 p.m.

Coca-Cola and Sta. Lucia, seventh and eighth placers in the double-round elimination phase, collide earlier at 4 p.m. kicking off the post-elim plays in the season-ending tourney.

Winners in the two “KO” settos advance to another do-or-die match Wednesday deciding which team plays B-MEG Derby Ace in the quarterfinal round.

As the smoke of the elims battle cleared, Talk n Text and San Miguel Beer gained outright berths in the semifinals while Derby Ace, Alaska Milk and Barangay Ginebra secured automatic seats in the quarters.

The Elasto Painters, the Tigers, the Realtors and the Express were left to dispute the last quarters slot through the wildcards considered by league watchers as anybody’s game.

Air21 may be the playoffs’ last seed but is given equal chance of making the next round.

PBA coaches even consider Air21 a big threat with a prolific import in LeRoy Hickerson and a local lineup strengthened by the addition of former Barako forward Leo Najorda.

The Express have shown big improvement in their game since the arrival of Hickerson.

Hickerson and his teammates will be up against the Rod Nealy-led Rain or Shine team out to recover from a poor performance in a playoff versus Barangay Ginebra Friday.

The other wildcard pairing pits two well-rested teams eager to plunge back into action.

“It’s a one-game affair. We will be ready and we will do whatever it takes to qualify for the next game,” said Coca-Cola coach Bo Perasol.

“The team is so excited and ready to play. Everybody has counted us out and we are challenged to prove the critics wrong,” said Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez.

The losers in today’s matches bid the season goodbye, joining Barako Energy Coffee in early vacation.