Quarterfinals on

Games today

Araneta Coliseum

5:15 p.m.- Meralco vs. San Mig

7:30 p.m.- Petron vs. Talk ‘N Text

Playoff basketball gets underway as the quarterfinal round of the 38th PBA Commissioner’s Cup starts today at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Meralco Bolts take on the defending champions San Mig Coffee Mixers in the first game, while the Petron Blaze Boosters battle the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters in the main game. The two encounters are both best-of-three series, hence, winning Game One will be crucial.

Petron and San Mig both finished the elimination round with eight wins and six losses but the former got the number three seeding owing to its superior quotient while the latter wound up the fourth seed.

Meralco and Talk N Text also ended the eliminations with similar records, both tallying sevens against the same number of defeats. Meralco is the fifth seed while Talk N Text is ranked sixth.

The other quarterfinal pairings pit the Alaska Aces against the Air21 Express and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters against the Barangay Ginebra Kings.

Alaska and Rain or Shine earned crucial twice-to-beat incentives after finishing one and two in the eliminations.

Alaska emerged the number one seed after collecting a league-best 11 victories and just dropped three games. Rain or Shine went 9-5 (win-loss) in the initial round.

Alaska is the hottest team going into the playoffs after winning its last four games. San Mig is also on roll heading to the playoffs after collecting three straight victories to end the eliminations.

The Express are the lowest seed in the playoffs after ending the eliminations with a 6-8 record. The Kings finished seventh with an even 7-7 slate.

First to be eliminated were Globalport Batang Pier and Barako Bull Energy Colas, who finished the eliminations with 2-12 and 5-9 slates, respectively.

Quarterfinal winners will advance to the semifinals which will be played in best-of-five affairs.