Who will complete the semifinals cast?
The quarterfinals are set to conclude but only two more teams are bound to advance as San Miguel Beer, TNT, Barangay Ginebra and Magnolia go for broke and shoot for the semis in a pair of knockout games in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup.
The Beermen and the Tropang Texters figure in the first do-or-die affair at 4:30 p.m., while the Gin Kings and the Hotshots battle in the other at 7 p.m. as their best-of-three affairs come to an end Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
With both series tied at 1-1, it all boils down to a pair of Game 3s to see which teams are bound to move forward to the next round.
San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra drew first bloods but TNT and Magnolia bounced right back to set up the deciding games.
TNT KaTropa survived by edging out San Miguel, 93-88, last Monday night in Game 2.
“We played really hard to get Game 2 and we hope we can keep that and our intensity in Game 3,” said TNT mentor Bong Ravena.
Magnolia did the same but in a different and more emphatic fashion, clobbering Ginebra, 106-77.
“We need to once again go all out in every possession on both ends of the floor to duplicate Game 2 and have a chance again,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero.
Top seeds Phoenix and Rain or Shine are both already in the semifinals and are waiting for their dance partners.
No. 1 Phoenix will face either the Beermen or the Tropang Texters in the next phase, while Rain or Shine awaits the victor between the Gin Kings and the Hotshots.
The Fuel Masters and Elasto Painters took care of business right away, maximizing their twice-to-beat incentives and eliminating their foes to advance.”‹