Beermen, Aces seek outright semis slots

Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4:15 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Alaska

7 p.m. – San Miguel vs Talk n Text

MANILA, Philippines - The top four teams clash in two key matches that could well determine the two squads gaining outright semifinal entry in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.

Second-running Alaska Milk (8-2) and No. 3 Rain or Shine (7-2) clash at 4:15 p.m. then league leader San Miguel Beer (8-1) and fourth-running Talk n Text (7-3) collide at 7 p.m.

Victories by San Miguel and Alaska will net them the automatic semis berths but Talk n Text and Rain or Shine will turn the battle into a wide open race if they prevail. 

“This is a big test for us,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.

“This actually is the biggest or the toughest for us this conference, considering we made a run versus opponents not as big as Talk n Text. Early on, we faced the traditional powers still on a rebuilding phase or still fine-tuning their game,” Austria pointed out.

“This one is different. This is a giant team which has been playing well. They are veterans who know how to handle any kind of game situation,” Austria added.

Both teams are on a run with San Miguel winning its last five games and Talk n Text hurdling six of its last seven outings.

The Aces had been on equal footing with the Beermen until they were stopped by the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 92-101, last Tuesday.

Nonetheless, the Aces will secure outright Final Four passage with a win over the E-Painters. Rain or Shine, meanwhile, sneaks into the Top Two if the E-Painters win their last two games against the Aces and the Barangay Ginebra Kings.

“Semis slot at stake. Alaska is formidable this conference as they have found a formula for winning,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.

“They’ve adopted a new system away from a deliberate half court triangle to a motion offense with a pressing defense,” Guiao added. “We have to find an antidote if we want this semis slot. If not, we just have to do it the long and hard way.”