Games today:
Araneta Coliseum
4:00 p.m.- Barako Bull vs. Alaska
6:15 p.m.- B-Meg vs. Meralco
Two teams will rise in this Easter Sunday playdate but two others will also fall as a pair of sudden-death matches get underway today in the 37th PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinal round at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Barako Bull Energy face the Alaska Aces in the first game, while the B-Meg Llamados clash with the Meralco Bolts in the main game.
Both best-of-three series are tied at one-game apiece after the four protagonists split the first two games of their respective battles.
Barako Bull and Meralco drew first blood with the former drubbing Alaska, 103-90, and the latter trashing B-Meg, 103-81.
Alaska and B-Meg, however, bucked elimination by scoring separate wins last Wednesday. Alaska downed the Energy, 99-92, while B-Meg scored a 95-85 win over Meralco.
Interestingly, the Energy easily defeated the Aces in Game 1 despite the scoreless performance of former import Reggie Okosa.
Okosa’s dismal showing prompted Barako Bull to bring in former two-time PBA Best Import awardee Gabe Freeman, who churned in a double-double performance in Game 2.
“He (Freeman) had a solid game with 22 points and 17 rebounds, but the problem for us was our local players,” said Barako Bull head coach Junel Baculi in a report posted at pba-online.net. “Alaska won because they wanted it more than we did. But in a do-or-die game, it’s going to be different.”
Alaska coach Joel Banal said the Aces are bracing for a big bounce-back from Freeman.
“We have to be smart with preparation and rest,” said Banal.
Since the league didn’t have a game last Friday, the four teams had the chance to further prepare the gameplan for the crucial knockout games.
“The three days will give us a chance to solidify our game plan,” said B-Meg coach Tim Cone. “It is too early in the playoffs to be tired or need breaks.”
The winner in the Alaska-Barako encounter will next play the defending champions Talk ’N Text Tropang Texters in a best-of-five semifinal duel, while the victor in the B-Meg-Meralco battle will next face the Barangay Ginebra Kings.