Jumbo Plastic, SCTEX seek outright semis entry

Games Thursday:

(Marikina Sports Center)

5 p.m. – Jumbo Plastic vs Sta. Lucia

7 p.m. – SCTEX vs Mighty Sports

MANILA, Philippines – Four teams will try to wrap up their elimination round campaign with a win in Thursday's double-header of the PCBL Chairman's Cup at the Marikina Sports Center.

Jumbo Plastic and Biyaheng SCTEX, two teams locked in a tie for second to third places, go for an all-important win against separate rivals to secure an automatic semifinals berth.

Both the Linoleum Giants and Biyaheng SCTEX carry identical 7-4 win-loss cards but the latter is hoping the inaugural staging champion will lose its match to Sta. Lucia Realty in their 5 p.m. encounter and win their 7 p.m. match with new powerhouse team Mighty Sports.

Should Jumbo end up tied with SCTEX at the end of the elims, the Linoleum Giants will advance outright to the semis and join early qualifier Mighty Sports by virtue of superior tiebreak in this tournament supported by Hahn Manila, Spalding, Ambucore, During's Barbeque and Restaurant, LGR and Gerry's Grill.

Mighty Sports has already secured the No. 1 spot as it already sports a 9-2 record.

SCTEX, meanwhile, tries to extend its winning run to five games.

The team that will finish No. 2 at the end of the elims will take a bye in the quarterfinal round and will join Mighty Sports.

The third-seeded squad will join Euro-Med, Sta. Lucia and Foton in the quarterfinal round where teams will play in a best-of-three series. Team No. 3 will face no. 6 while No. 5 battles No. 4.

For Sta. Lucia, it wants to improve its standings further as a loss to Jumbo Plastic eould relegate the team to no. 6 with a 5-7 record, tied with Foton, which defeated the Realtors in both meetings in the double round eliminations.