MANILA, Philippines - The PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals boil down to a pair of knockout tussles tonight at the Araneta Coliseum, a big card that fittingly ushers in the league’s weeklong anniversary celebrations.
Alaska Milk and Air21 clash at 5 p.m. then Barangay Ginebra and Rain or Shine slug it out at 7:30 p.m. in a pair of do-or-die contests that would determine the teams joining Talk n Text and Smart Gilas Pilipinas in the Final Four.
The Aces and the Kings boast of formidable talents with rich playoff experience but the Express and the Elasto Painters are driven by their desire to score a breakthrough feat.
All four expect a battle and each one is hopeful to pull through to make the best-of-five semifinals.
Alaska and Ginebra, which are right behind San Miguel Beer as the most winningest active ball clubs in the league, are aching to stay in the hunt for another championship.
Air21 and Rain or Shine, on the other hand, are determined to stay in further contention as they hope to finally essay a championship run.
The Elasto Painters’ best finish in the league so far was fourth in the 2009 Fiesta Conference, the first and only time it reached the semifinals since joining the league in 2006.
Curiously, it’s also the tournament when Air21 last got to the Final Four. Then known as Burger King, the LGC franchise beat Rain or Shine for third place.
The Express and the Elasto Painters forced the double KO matches with similar emphatic victories Sunday at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Air21 drubbed Alaska, 94-84, while Rain or Shine clobbered Ginebra, 113-97.
The winner-take-all matches will be spiced up by side events in connection with the “PBA 36th Anniversary Week” bash.
The league will raffle off a DVD unit, five Cash n’Carry gift checks and Ipod-Shuffle. A motorcycle and seven gift checks from Puregold await lucky fans on Friday while a four-year full scholarship at Informatics, a radio and a walkman are special items to be raffled off Sunday.
Having survived three KO games already made the Express believe they’re destined to do good in the tourney.
Import Alpha Bangura vowed they would do their best to get that.
“We want to win; that’s the bottom line,” said Bangura who could be a top choice for the Best Import award if they make the semis.
Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said they can complete an upset if they can sustain the good rhythm they showed in their game Sunday.
“Our good rhythm was evident in our number of assists. For as long as we move the ball around well, get good rhythm in our ball movement, no defense can stop that,” said Guiao.
Ginebra coach Jong Uichico, meanwhile, said his team must be ready physically and mentally.
“We have to come out with a better mind set than we did in the last game,” said Uichico.