Powerade and Barako Bull have been eliminated while San Miguel Beer is safe into the quarterfinals
with a twice-to-beat incentive to boot.

More things could clear up as three other teams in the upper half of the chart see action in the
final Friday double-header in the PBA Philippine Cup elimination round at the Araneta Coliseum.

One scenario is San Miguel Beer, Barangay Ginebra, Talk n Text and B-MEG Derby Ace filling up the
top four slots.

The Tropang Texters and the Kings, among teams who reigned supreme in the all-Filipino tourney in
the last four years, meet in a virtual playoff for the last seat in the Top Two.

The two teams mix it up at 7:30 p.m. both eyeing a 10th win against three losses.

B-MEG Derby Ace tangles with also-ran Barako Bull at 5 p.m. with the Llamados seeking to clinch
fourth seeding in the post elims play.

“This will be our most crucial game thus far. The key will be how we’re able to penetrate
Ginebra’s tough defense. They’ve been playing the best ‘D’ in the league right now,” said
Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes.

“It’s the most important game for both teams in the elimination round. Expect a tough game,”
said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.

It’s a crucial game that offers to the winner an outright twice-to-beat advantage in the
quarterfinals.

The Texters even get a chance to grab top seeding in the playoffs if they beat the Kings.

However, San Miguel Beer automatically clinches the No. 1 spot in case Ginebra prevails over Talk n
Text.

The loser in the Ginebra-TnT match settles for the No. 3 spot to be pitted versus the No. 6 team in
a best-of-three showdown in the quarterfinals.

The five other playoffs-bound teams – Derby Ace (7-6), Meralco (6-7), Air21 (6-7), Alaska Milk
(6-7) and Rain or Shine (5-7) – are locked in a tighter fight for spots in the Top Six.

Each one wants to finish at least sixth to avoid a quarterfinals duel with the top seed or the
second seed.

Air21 muddled up the race Wednesday as the Express whipped the Elasto Painters, 93-87, to move up
to joint fifth.

“It’s an important win for us which we hope can bring us all the way to Top Six. That’s the
main goal… to get out of seventh and eighth, and play on even terms in the quarterfinals,” said
Air21 coach Yeng Guiao.

“We have Talk n Text as our last game. We have to win that game or this game would mean
nothing,” Guiao added.

For the teams out of the fight for the Top Two, ideal is a finish from third to sixth. No. 3 plays
No. 6 and No. 4 clashes with No. 5 in best-of-three series in the quarters.