MANILA — Phoenix and Blackwater will slug it out for the last twice-to-beat advantage in the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals right at the final night of the elimination round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Sunday.
Currently tied in fourth and fifth places at 7-3, only one team among the Fuel Masters and the Elite will take the fourth seed and the quarterfinal bonus after their 4:30 p.m. match.
However, a win will mean more to Phoenix as it can catapult the squad to the second seed due to a superior quotient over Alaska and Magnolia, regardless of what happens to Ginebra in the nightcap against TNT.
Speaking of the KaTropa-Barangay game at 6:45 p.m., the latter can clinch the top seed with a victory over the former.
Ginebra also has an extra lifeline in the form of a Phoenix win as the result will give the former the top seed even if it loses to TNT. A Ginebra loss plus a Blackwater win will see the former dropping to the second seed and idle Magnolia moving up to number one.
Meanwhile, the KaTropa is gunning for survival as only a win against the Barangay can keep the team in the playoff hunt, especially if the Meralco Bolts stun the San Miguel Beermen in a game that will be played at the same venue on Saturday night.
TNT can claim the last quarterfinal seat outright if it beats Ginebra and Meralco bows to SMB. TNT can be knocked out if it loses to Ginebra and Meralco prevails. Otherwise, a wildcard game scheduled for Tuesday, also at “The Big Dome”, will take place. (/PNA)
