ANOTHER chapter will be added to the already colorful rivalry of San Miguel Beer and Rain or Shine as their paths cross once again in the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup.
For the third straight conference, the Beermen and the Elasto Painters go to war against each other in the semifinals and familiarity will certainly play a big part in their best-of-seven affair.
Will San Miguel continue to assert its dominance over Rain or Shine or will the Elasto Painters finally find the anecdote to the Beermen’s poison?
The Beermen have been dominant against the Elasto Painters in the previous two conferences as they stepped it up in the most crucial times to eliminate Rain or Shine in the Round of 4, en route to winning the league’s last two championships.
San Miguel downed Rain or Shine, 3-1, in a best-of-five clash in the 2015 Governors’ Cup, before repeating the act again with a 4-2 win in a best-of-seven showdown last Philippine Cup, where it won the series’ last three games after a 1-2 deficit.
However, this conference, Rain or Shine bested San Miguel in the elimination round in their only encounter, taking it 108-105.
In the quarterfinals, their roads were different.
While the Elasto Painters dispatched Barangay Ginebra with ease with a 2-0 sweep in their best-of-three series, the Beermen had the toughest of times.
San Miguel, despite being the top seed heading the playoffs and armed with a twice-to-beat edge, had its hands full with Star, losing the first game and was taken to a knockout match before overcoming an 11-point, fourth-quarter deficit to advance.
On the other side of the fence, Meralco is still waiting for its dancing partner in the semis.
The Bolts, who were the first team to get to the semis, will either face defending champion Talk ‘N Text or Alaska in the next round.
As of this report, the Tropang Texters and the Aces are currently going at it in their knockout game in the quarterfinals in Game 3 of their best-of-seven series in the quarterfinals to see who claims the last ticket to the semis.