NO matter how small the opening, Phoenix and Blackwater won't stop knocking on the door.
The Fuel Masters (3-7) and the Bossing (2-8) continue their desperate push for the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals when they clash Tuesday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Game time is at 5 p.m. with 11th-running Phoenix seeking to get to four wins and the No. 12 Blackwater shooting for Win No. 3 in an effort to keep their slim playoffs hopes alive.
Entering this week's hostilities, only four teams have put a lock on quarterfinal tickets - Converge (8-3), Meralco (7-3), NorthPort (7-3) and guest team Hong Kong Eastern (7-3) - with pacesetting TNT (6-2), Rain or Shine (6-3) and Barangay Ginebra (6-4) only one W away from outright qualification.
With this, it's now a royal rumble for the lower spots in the Last-8 for the rest of the field, except winless cellar-dweller Terrafirma (0-11), which is out of it all with a game to spare in its elims slate.
Sponsored content: Struggling defending champion San Miguel Beer is clinging to No. 8 at 4-5 followed by Magnolia and NLEX at 4-6 apiece.
For the Fuel Masters, taking care of business against Blackwater will draw them closer to the group with four Ws plus a chance to reach five with an upset of the Troppang Giga on Friday.
For the Bossing, getting the job done against Phoenix will put them at three victories with an opportunity to finish with four triumphs if they can take down the Batang Pier on Saturday.
The teams above Phoenix and Blackwater might throw a wrench on the two's plans in the end by reaching six wins, though. But just the same, the Fuel Masters and the Bossing will be fighting until they can't. (OL)
