Four teams start series for 2 semis slots

MANILA, Philippines - The PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoff phase begins today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with four elimination-round middle-of-the-pack teams starting to rumble for the two remaining slots in the Final Four.

It’s B-Meg versus Meralco and Alaska Milk against Barako Bull in a pair of best-of-three quarterfinal series determining the two teams joining Talk n Text and Barangay Ginebra in the best-of-five semifinals.

The Llamados, who narrowly missed an outright semis berth, and the Bolts, who barely made the quarterfinals, slug it out for the right to play the Kings in the semis.

The Energy and the Aces, on the other hand, fight for a place in the semis against the Tropang Texters.

“We don’t have much time to reflect or feel bad (about our loss to Ginebra Friday). It’s all about bouncing back and refocusing. We have a resilient group. We’ll show up ready against Meralco,” said B-Meg coach Tim Cone.

Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio, meanwhile, feels their tough grind in the eliminations could serve them well in the playoffs.

“The 1-4 (win-loss) team a few weeks ago is now a 4-1 team in the last five games. Our turnaround is brought about by our strong commitment to defense. Against B-Meg, the same kind of lockdown defensive mentality is required if we want to continue our ambitious climb to the top,” said Gregorio.

“The challenge against B-Meg is how to keep in step with their roster power. Our perspective is simple – the game is 5 on 5, and for as long as we have guys inside, we will compete till the end,” Gregorio added.

Of course, Gregorio is well familiar with the Llamados, a team he steered to three championships.

“We had a creditable job hounding Gary David, Marcio Lassiter and Jvee Casio (of Powerade Friday). Against B-Meg, their guards James Yap, PJ Simon and Josh Urbiztondo must also be contained. Denzel Bowles is excellent too, and he must be limited,” said Gregorio.

B-Meg clipped Meralco, 96-93, in their elims faceoff although Earl Barron wasn’t in town yet then.

Barron could well be a tough matchup for the Llamados, being a seven-foot player who can play inside and outside.

Barako Bull battles Alaska with a new import in tow in Reggie Okosa. The Energy were forced to look for a new reinforcement as Rodney White rushed home to attend to his ailing father.

“We will surely miss Rodney, but we will be ready with Reggie Okosa,” said Barako coach Junel Baculi.

“We need to make a lot of adjustments again and we’re surely the underdogs,” Baculi added.

The Barako bench chieftain said the Aces are tough with dependable backcourt players in LA Tenorio, Cyrus Baguio and Bonbon Custodio and frontcourt warriors in Adam Parada, Sonny Thoss and Jayr Reyes.

Baculi is downplaying their chances though they walloped the Aces, 98-78, during the tournament opener.