Past the halfway mark of the elims, San Miguel Beer and Magnolia are on an unfamiliar ground.
They're neck and neck on the fringes of the Top Eight as the Beermen and the Hotshots, both traditional contenders, slug it out in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo Sunday.
Both are in a tight spot and should now be in a playoff mode and crank it up before things get tougher and the sailing gets rougher.
"Either we win or we go home pretty much," said young Magnolia forward Zavi Lucero of where they stand at joint ninth with the NLEX Road Warriors at 3-5.
With all their talents, the Beermen are barely ahead at 3-4, coming from a two-game skid as they set out for the 7:30 p.m. setto.
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They dropped their last game in 2024, suffering a 91-99 beating at the hands of Hong Kong Eastern, and wasn't lucky either in their first game of 2025, yielding to the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 81-93.
They're 0-2 with import sub Jabari Narcis.
In a tougher bind is Magnolia.
And things could've been worse if not for an 89-84 escape win over Terrafirma Friday over at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Ricardo Ratliffe delivered 32 points and 14 rebounds while Lucero came through with 17 markers, including clutch hits at the finish, as the Hotshots scuttled the Dyip's upset bid.
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"I don't think we need any more fuel," said Lucero. "Everyone's seen how our games have turned out. Christmas is Christmas but we've lost tough ones. So it's kind of we got to win games; no more fuel than that."
The Hotshots gained a big relief on their escape, extending their win run in head-on clashes with the Dyip.
"It's another grinding game for us. Ganyan na ang tema ng games namin, close games. But this time we closed it out," said coach Chito Victolero of the win they pulled off in the absence of Paul Lee due to a meniscus injury.
And they need to continue to overcome and defy odds if they're to make the playoffs in the end. (SB)
