PBA quarterfinal round starts today

Games today:

Araneta Coliseum

5:15 p.m.- Barangay Ginebra vs. Rain or Shine

7:30 p.m.- Alaska vs. Meralco

ACTION SHIFTS to high gear as the quarterfinal round of the 38th PBA Philippine Cup starts today at the Araneta Coliseum.

Facing in a best-of-three series, the Barangay Ginebra Kings meet the physical Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the first game while the Alaska Aces tangle with the Meralco Bolts in the main game.

The Kings try to continue their dominance over the Painters, whom they beat in two meetings in the elimination round. Ginebra first nipped Rain or Shine in their Oct. 7 meeting, 98-94, and prevailed again in their Nov. 25 encounter, 97-90.

Rain or Shine went into the playoffs as the third seed after ending the eliminations with a nine wins and five losses. Ginebra is ranked sixth after a ending the eliminations with an even 7-7 (win-loss) record.

Meanwhile, two energetic rookies headline the Alaska-Meralco encounter.

Calvin Abueva and Cliff Hodge will try to lead their respective teams in their bids of earning a spot in the Final Four. The two squads split their elimination round meetings.

The Bolts torched the Aces in their Oct. 10 battle, 93-85. The Aces didn’t have Abueva in that battle as the hardworking rookie was still finishing his commitment with the San Sebastian Stafs in the NCAA.

Abueva figured prominently when the two teams met again last Nov. 28 where the Aces pulled off a thrilling 88-85 victory./EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA