The quarterfinals officially kick off as four protagonists look to start fresh and gain the upperhand in the playoffs of the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup.
A hot pair of best-of-three affairs start with everyone eyeing first blood.
No. 3 seed Blackwater dukes it out against No. 6 Rain or Shine at 4:30 p.m., while No. 4 Barangay Ginebra and No. 5 Magnolia resume their sizzling rivalry at 6:45 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City today.
The Elite were coming off a highly successful elimination round as they ended up with their best finish in franchise history, piling up a 7-4 record.
“We had a good elimination round but we haven’t achieved anything yet,” said Blackwater coach Aries Dimaunahan. “What we’re looking at is to go deep in the playoffs.”
Blackwater will go up against an inconsistent Rain or Shine side, which managed a 5-6 mark.
The Elite came out on top in their elimination round duel, 98-92, last June 2.
Over at the other pairing, the storied rivalry continues between the Gin Kings and the Hotshots.
While Ginebra emphatically took their elimination-round meeting, 102-81, last July 7, it was Magnolia which got the best out of the two in the previous conferences.
The Hotshots have eliminated the Gin Kings in the last two conferences in the playoffs and are looking to continue their success.
On the other hand, Ginebra is looking to reverse the table as it looks to defend its crown.