Games Thursday (San Juan Arena)
2 p.m. – Big Chill vs Hog’s Breath Cafe
4 p.m. – NLEX vs Zambales M-Builders
MANILA, Philippines - With their place in the semifinals of the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup secured, the Big Chill Superchargers gun for the top seeding today with a victory over Hog’s Breath Cafe in the penultimate date of the elimination round at the San Juan Arena.
The Superchargers are on top of the standings with an 11-1 record but could lose the No.1 seeding to NLEX (10-2) in the event the two teams end up tied at the end of the eliminations.
That possibility gets into play if Big Chill loses to Hog’s Breath Café and NLEX wins against the skidding Zambales M-Builders in today’s double-header at the San Juan Arena.
NLEX defeated Big Chill, 97-88, last Dec. 2.
Big Chill coach Robert Sison has repeatedly said they want to finish the eliminations on a winning note.
The Razorbacks though may not be as motivated. Regardless of the result, they will finish at No. 4, which guarantees them with a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals against Cagayan Valley.
“We will go all out in getting that number one spot. We want to enter the semis on a winning note,†Sison said.
The Road Warriors lost their grip of the No.1 spot after a stunning 74-78 defeat to Cagayan Valley (9-4) on Tuesday.
But they are expected to close out their elimination campaign with a victory against the free-falling Zambales M-Builders. The defending champions and the Builders clash at 4 p.m. following the 2 p.m. encounter between the Superchargers and the Razorbacks.
The Builders (2-10) are on a nine-game losing skid and their ability to pull off a surprise is a long shot with a short-handed line-up.
Only nine players showed up in Zambales M-Builders’ 68-94 loss to Bancio de Oro last Monday. Unpaid salary to players and team staff has reportedly caused unrest within the organization, forcing a couple of players to leave the team.