Jul 16, 2019

KaTropa eye playoff top seeding in clash with Hotshots

TNT KaTropa seeks playoffs top seeding while Magnolia Pambansang Manok shoots for No. 5 as they clash in the closing match in the PBA Commissioner's Cup elimination round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday.

It's a battle for final positioning in the playoffs as both have achieved what was there to achieve - a twice-to-beat privilege in the playoffs for the KaTropa and a quarters entry for the Hotshots.

Both teams are not expected to slow down, though, as they look to build momentum going into the playoffs that start Saturday after a sure knockout game Friday -- either Alaska versus Phoenix or Alaska opposite Meralco.

And it's a fight for pride and honor, too.

For the KaTropa, it's a shot at a first elims top finish in eight conferences.

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They have never gone to the playoffs as top seeds since the 2016 Governors Cup where they were reinforced by Mychal Ammons and Asian reinforcement Michael Madanly from the strife-torn Aleppo City in Syria. But they were then stopped by the Meralco Bolts in the semifinals.

The KaTropa will be matching their 10-1 mark in the 2016 Governors Cup if they beat the Hotshots.

Should they lose, the KaTropa would be tied by North Port at 9-2, and the Batang Pier would steal the No. 1 spot by virtue of the winner-over-the-other rule.

Magnolia, meanwhile, shoots for No. 5 to be in the best-of-three quarterfinals and avoid the danger of dropping to No. 7 with a twice-to-win disadvantage in the playoffs.

Going into the 7 p.m. match, the Hotshots (5-5) can only be No. 5 or No. 7.

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A fifth-place finish will send them to an early playoff matchup with the Barangay Ginebra Kings.

In contention in fifth to seventh spots with Magnolia are San Miguel Beer (5-5) and Rain or Shine (5-6).

In case of a three-way tie at 5-6, the Hotshots will top the tiebreak with a superior quotient.

In the same deadlock, San Miguel will be the one dropping out of the best-of-three quarters because of a poor quotient. (SB)