Games today:
Araneta Coliseum
5:30 p.m.- B-Meg vs. Petron
7:45 p.m.- Rain or Shine vs. Alaska
The way they have been performing of late, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters are said to have the inside track of clinching the last finals seat in the 36th PBA Governors’ Cup.
While the Painters are drawing too much attention in the race for the last finals slot, there’s actually another squad that perhaps has bigger chances of earning the right to challenge the grand slam-seeking Talk ‘N Text Texters and that’s the Petron Blaze Boosters.
The last two play dates of the semifinal round will see the Painters play two teams still in the running for a finals slot while the Boosters will take on opponents who will be playing non-bearing games.
The Boosters try to capitalize on a favorable schedule, beginning with an encounter with the B-Meg Llamados at 5:30 p.m. today, while the Painters collide with the Alaska Aces in a crucial 7:45 p.m. main game at the Araneta Coliseum.
Apart from being a sister-team, the Llamados could offer less resistance against the Boosters since they are already out of contention.
B-Meg is also short-handed with the continued absence of Rico Maierhofer, Roger Yap, Kerby Raymundo and Jonas Villanueva.
The Texters have clinched the first finals seat after accumulating nine wins after 12 games, including three in the semis.
The Aces and the Barangay Ginebra Kings are tied at second place with 7-5 (win-loss) records, while the Boosters and the Painters are tied at fourth place with 6-5 slates.
The Llamados are last among the semifinalists with a 5-7 record. Should they hurdle the Llamados, the Boosters have an easier assignment when the semis ends on Friday as they will be playing the Texters who are assured of a finals seat.
The Boosters are expected to have the advantage in that game as the Texters are expected to go easy or rest their best players to avoid injuries going into the finals.
Unlike the Boosters, the Painters will have their last two games against two tough teams who are gunning for a semis berth.
The Aces are expected to go all-out against the Painters to stay in contention.
Should they survive the Aces, the Painters will still have to play the Kings, who are also looking for a win that will keep them in the semis race.
Both the Boosters and the Painters have two games left and one loss could mean elimination for them.
Should the Boosters and the Painters sweep their remaining assignments, it will be the latter who will advance to the finals following a 102-86 victory in their semis encounter.