After a tight elimination round that saw teams bunched up so close together, the PBA Commissioner’s Cup is finally in playoff territory. And what better way to start it off than with a double-headed between two fierce rivals and two independent teams emerging as serious contenders.
Converge Tests Rain or Shine in Battle of Independent Teams on the Rise
In the first game of today’s doubleheader at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the third-seeded Converge FiberXers will take on the sixth-seeded Rain or Shine Elasto Painters to officially start the playoffs.
The Converge-Rain or Shine series will be a face-off between two independent teams starting to assert themselves as emerging contenders. The Elasto Painters already proved their mettle last conference, making it to the semis against the TNT Tropang Giga. The FiberXers, meanwhile, have only gotten better after stretching the San Miguel Beermen to the limit in their best-of-five quarterfinals duel also last conference.
Naturally, the two opposing coaches—Yeng Guiao and Franco Atienza—are wary of each other’s teams.
“I think Converge could have easily made first or second also so parang ang kalaban namin 1 and 2 rin. Kaya lang, best-of-three (series). Hindi kami agrabyado,” Guaio said of the FiberXers. “Ang problema lang namin ngayon paano naming tatalunin ng dalawang beses ‘yung Converge.”
“They are a running team, a three-point shooting team and talagang ang mga guards nila will give us problems. So we need to control that, their running game, their outside sniping,” Atienza said of the Elasto Painters. “Hopefully, we get our bearings right.”
Game time is set at 5:00 p.m.
Meralco, Ginebra Renew Rivalry
In the second game, two old friends meet again as Barangay Ginebra San Miguel takes on the Meralco Bolts in another quarterfinal matchup.
The same two teams already figured in a quarters scrap last conference, with Ginebra sweeping Meralco in a best-of-five affair. Justin Brownlee led the way in that series, with an aggressive Scottie Thompson helping set the tone in Games 1 and 2. The two players will be looked upon to carry the fight for the crowd darlings again as they look to best their rivals once more.
For the Bolts, containing Brownlee and Thompson are obviously a priority. But an equally big concern might be getting import Akil Mitchell ready for what should be a spirited Ginebra squad. Mitchell missed Meralco’s last two games in the eliminations and likely cost the Bolts a shot at the win-once seeding. Anything less than 100% from Mitchell could spell trouble for Luigi Trillo’s squad, who are seeking payback from last conference’s sweep.
It won’t be easy, though, with Ginebra parading a lineup reinforced by free agent acquisition Troy Rosario and the now-healthy Jamie Malonzo.
Game time is at 7:30 p.m.
