Ginebra’s Sol Mercado soars for a lay-up against Star’s Ian Sangalang in their Christmas Day showdown. (PBA IMAGES)
Game today
Mall of Asia Arena
5 p.m.- Brgy. Ginebra vs. GlobalPort
IT’S JUDGEMENT day for the Barangay Ginebra Kings and the GlobalPort Batang Pier as they take on each other in a sudden-death quarterfinal showdown of the 41st PBA Philippine Cup starting 5 p.m. today at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Another do-or-die duel will pit the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and the Talk N Text Tropang Texters slated on Monday also at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The sudden-death duels were forged after the four teams dispatched their respective lower-ranked quarterfinal foes in the first phase of the quarterfinals.
In their Christmas Day showdown, the Batang Pier got rid of the Barako Bull Energy, 94-85, while the Kings once again displayed their never-say die attitude when they nipped the Star Hotshots in overtime, 92-89.
Ginebra trailed by 18 points in the fourth period but staged a mammoth comeback sealed by LA Tenorio’s buzzer-beating triple.
Yesterday, the Elasto Painters booted out the Blackwater Elite, 95-90, while the Tropang Texters edged out the NLEX Road Warriors, 90-88.
GlobalPort, Ginebra, Talk N Text and Rain or Shine were twice-to-beat in their respective series.
The winner in today’s Ginebra-GlobalPort will next play the number one seed Alaska Aces in a best-of-seven semifinal series,
On the other hand, the winner in the Rain or Shine-Talk ‘N Text tussle will challenge the second seed San Miguel Beermen in a separate race-to-four semis showdown.
Alaska and San Miguel advanced to the Final Four round outright after a one-two finish in the eliminations.
Jeff Chan and Troy Rosario came up big for their respective teams yesterday.
Chan tallied 17 points and six rebounds to lead the Elasto Painters, who spoiled the playoff debut of expansion team Blackwater.
Cebuano big man JR Quinahan, rookie Maverick Ahanmisi and Raymond Almasan backed Chan with a combined 38 points.
The loss spoiled the strong showing of Carlo Lastimosa, who topped the Elite with 35 markers.
Rosario led the way for the Tropang Texters with 22 markers, while veteran forward Danny Seigle, Ryan Reyes, Jayson Castro and Larry Fonacier connived for 32 markers in a balanced Talk ‘N Text attack.