AIR21 fights for dear life when it battles Alaska in the main game of the final day of the elimination round of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Express need to win their 7:30 p.m. encounter to advance to the best-of-three quarterfinal series while ending the hopes of B-MEG Derby Ace (4-5) to grab the remaining slot in the next round.
In the first game, Rain or Shine (4-4) and ousted San Miguel Beer (1-7) square off in a contest where only pride, basically, is at stake.
From a 1-4 start, Air21 slowly danced its way to contention by winning its last three assignments against Powerade (108-98), Meralco (110-101) and Rain or Shine (94-92).
But head coach Bong Ramos said their streak will be futile if they lose their most important game so far in the conference.
“Sayang ’yung pinaghirapan namin in the past three games if we lose to Alaska. Pero nakikita ko naman sa players that they want to stay alive in the tournament,” said Ramos.
“The pressure is there pero sabi ko sa players we just have to play our own game against Alaska kasi magaling sa offense and defense ’yung team na ’yan,” he added.
Five teams are already through to the next round—Talk ’N Text (8-1), Smart Gilas-Pilipinas (7-2), the Alaska Aces (5-3), Barangay Ginebra (5-4) and the Elasto Painters (4-4)—with the sixth and last slot now being contested by the Express and Llamados.
Rain or Shine, although it could wind up alongside either Air21 or B-Meg—has secured a berth in the next round even if it loses to San Miguel Beer because of the win-over-the-other rule (over the B-MEG Derby Ace).
“We’re the only team playing with a [bearing], while one team [B-Meg] wants us to lose. This is a great challenge for us and we will do our best to make it to the next round,” said Ramos.
Alpha Bangura, Danny Seigle, Dondon Hontiveros and Jay-R Reyes are in their elements lately for the Express and the bench, led by Josh Urbiztondo, Wynnie Arboleda and Reed Juntilla, has also been responding pretty well.
Ramos hopes they can bring the same intensity against the Aces, who will be welcoming the return of import LD Williams, who was served his suspension in team’s 97-113 loss to Rain or Shine on Friday.
Alaska could clinch the No. 3 seed in the quarterfinals with a win on Wednesday and head coach Tim Cone said his wards will go all out to be ready for the next stage.
“What is important for us is to strengthen our game and [ready] ourselves for the playoffs starting on Friday,” said Cone. “And the only way we can do that is to go all out and play our highest level.”
If the Aces prevail, they will be facing the Llamados in the quarterfinals, while Rain or Shine will take on the Kings in the other series. --Joel Orellana
