A FIRST semis stint in three seasons for the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters or another Final Four tango among the SMC and MVP Group studs?
The post-PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals fates of the Fuel Masters and the Meralco Bolts will be decided as the two teams slug it out in a Sunday knockout setto at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Game time is 6:30 p.m.
Coach Luigi Trillo and his troops sent coach Jamike Jarin and his chargers to this rubber following a 116-107 decision in a marathon triple-overtime contest Wednesday over at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The Fuel Masters squandered a comfortable lead and eventually yielded the game, and will now have to win a KO match to salvage a first semis appearance since the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup under coach Louie Alas.
Otherwise, it would be another semis party among teams from the league’s giant conglomerates.
In the last two seasons, the disruption happened just once when the Bay Area Dragons made the 2023 Commissioner’s Cup Last Four and rumbled all the way to the finals versus the Barangay Ginebra Kings.
The Fuel Masters and the Bolts duel in a decider at 6:30 p.m. with the winner advancing to the best-of-five semifinals versus the Magnolia Hotshots and the loser taking the exit.
Commissioner’s Cup titlist Ginebra and Philippine Cup holder San Miguel took one game to boot out NorthPort and Rain or Shine, respectively, and in the process arrange a gigantic face-off.
Meanwhile, Meralco and Phoenix even needed 15 extra minutes to determine the winner in their initial clash.
“It’s going to be a hard game. It’s a quality basketball; both two good teams. We’re going to duke it out,” said Trillo of their rubber match.
The two teams actually finished tied with San Miguel and Ginebra at second to fifth with identical 8-3 slates in the elims.
The Bolts were bumped off the Top 4 by an inferior quotient.
But Chris Newsome and his teammates showed determination to beat the odds, at least in the initial game Wednesday.
On Sunday, they could face another challenge on the possible absence of Cliff Hodge who hurt his ankle in a bad fall.
“It was accidental. Tumalon siya and I think naapakan niya yung paa ng isang player.
But that’s part of the game,” said Trillo, confident though that they would be ready on Sunday with or without Hodge.
“If Cliff can’t go, we have other guys. I have faith in Kyle (Pascual), Raymund (Almazan) and those other guys, too. We’re ready,” Trillo pointed out.
It’s expected to be another tough grind.(SB)
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