BARANGAY Ginebra and Converge fight for third place as they slug it out in the penultimate play date of the PBA Commissioner's Cup elimination round at the PhilSports Arena Wednesday.
They clash at 5:45 p.m., both gunning for a 9-3 closing card in the single-round-robin elims.
The Kings and the FiberXers tote identical records, but the match has bigger bearing for Ginebra which still has an outside chance of sneaking into second place behind the Bay Area Dragons (10-2).
But that is not an easy shot, with Magnolia automatically ending the race for No. 2 should it beat Rain or Shine in the final play date of the elims Friday.
The race takes a different direction in case the Kings beat the FiberXers then the Hotshots lose to the Elasto Painters, sending Ginebra and Magnolia to a 9-3 deadlock.
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In that scenario, the Kings would emerge as the second seed on account of the winner-over-the-other rule. On. Oct. 23, coach Tim Cone and his troops prevailed in the Manila Clasico tiff, 103-97.
But Cone is realistic they have no control over the Magnolia-ROS setto. And the Kings are bent on taking care of business versus the FiberXers.
But it's expected to be a humdinger of a fight.
The FiberXers are determined to build momentum going to the playoffs.
They had been the hottest team in the tourney until seeing their streak snapped as coach Aldin Ayo opted not to play import Quincy Miller in their last outing against NorthPort.
Ayo enforced a disciplinary measure with Miller missing their practice the morning after his birthday celebration. Alas, the entire team suffered the consequence in a 112-97 loss to the Batang Pier.
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With that loss, the FiberXers bombed out of the race for a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.
Now, the best they can get is third seeding in the playoffs where they would be sent to a best-of-three showdown versus No. 6. (SB)
