RAIN or Shine and Phoenix Super LPG clash in a battle for playoff seeding to end their elimination round campaign in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup on Friday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Game time is 5:15 p.m.
The Elasto Painters and Fuel Masters tote similar 5-4 records. The winner of this match will secure the No. 2 ranking in Group B while the loser gets the third seed going into the quarterfinal round.
Magnolia sealed the No. 1 seed in Group B after nosing out Rain or Shine, 107-103, last Wednesday. The Hotshots will face defending champion TNT which enters the postseason as the fourth seed from Group A.
Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao admitted trying to balance the tension of managing the players’ playing time in an effort to keep them fresh for the playoff wars.
“We wanted to win this game but at the same time we wanted to preserve our players,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao following the Magnolia game that saw his team claw back from 10 points down to almost tie the score down the stretch.
“We’ll see how it goes,” said Guiao. “We have one day to prepare tomorrow (Thursday). Again, we will put an all-out effort to win, but at the same time try to keep our players healthy and fresh for the coming games.”
Import Aaron Fuller, Adrian Nocum and Leonard Santillan will take the lead for the Elasto Painters who are aching to end their 10-year PBA title drought.
Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra shoots for the No. 4 seed as it goes for the win against Blackwater in the main game at 7:30 p.m.
The Gin Kings tote a 4-5 record following their 106-89 hammering of the Fuel Masters.
Scottie Thompson, who delivered an all-around performance of 29 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three steals, along with import Jordan Murphy’s 28 and 12, will be leading the charge for Ginebra.
Blackwater (3-6) has been on a tailspin since opening the conference with back-to-back wins.
RICHARD DY
