Four teams. Two to survive.
On Monday night, Batangas City will host a pair of knockout matches which feature their very own Tanduay-backed Athletics facing the Imus Bandera-GLC Truck and Equipment, while Zamboanga-Family’s Brand Sardines takes on the Muntinlupa Cagers-Angelis Resort.
Expect the Batangas City Coliseum to erupt in a make-or-break match for the Athletics, the inaugural staging champions, who are looking to win back-to-back titles.
But their 9 p.m. encounter could also determine whether they could get past the Bandera, who are equally as determined as they are.
In the games both teams split, Imus was able to push Batangas City to the limit and following its 75-69 win on Thursday, the Bandera are making sure they are poised to pull off an upset against the second-ranked team in the playoffs.
“Gusto ko ‘yung tsansa namin. Kasi nga napatunayan namin na kaya naming manalo and even nu’ng natalo kami sa Batangas, we’ve proven that we can compete with them,” said Imus coach Noy Falcasantos.
Falcasantos added that since this is a do-or-die game, no team has the edge in the final game.
“Except the home court advantage,” added Falcasantos. “It’s something we have to live with. If we want to win, winning in Batangas would be sweeter.”
The series between Zamboanga and Muntinlupa has been set up into a rubber match as well, after the team from the Sardines Capital of the Philippines snatched one from the Cagers in front of their boisterous crowd on Thursday.
The two teams will square off at 7 p.m.
Now playing on neutral ground, Zamboanga likes its chances better and Harold Arboleda, Reed Juntilla, Robin Roño and their supporting cast are determined to push their season further in hope of playing back at home in the semifinal round.”‹