Teams vying for Top Four spots will continue their respective bids as Rain or Shine, Ginebra, and Meralco see action in the penultimate Sunday of the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup eliminations at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Bolts, currently at fourth in the standings with a 6-3 record, will open the twin-bill affair at 5:15 with a meeting against the also-ran Blackwater, before the 8-2 Elasto Painters and the Kings (7-3) duke it out at the 7:30 p.m. nightcap.
Definitely, much of the focus is on the main-event bout, as it features contenders looking to get back on track after losing in their previous matches.
Coach Yeng Guiao and his charges lost to a last-second JB Bahio jumper and ultimately bowed to NLEX, 92-90, which not only spoiled their aim of building another streak but also took the conference leadership away from them.
For a while, RoS stood atop 12 other teams but is now at no. 2, having lost twice in their last three outings–that, after a 7-0 start into the tourney.
As a result, the Road Warriors are now the no. 1 team in the league, and even strengthened their grip following a 100-81 rout of Converge Saturday, which also enabled the MVP franchise to clinch a win-once quarterfinal incentive.
Should the Elasto Painters fall, then Coach Jong Uichico’s squad could virtually lock up the top spot entering the playoffs’ opening round, since they have the advantage after beating the former and the crowd darlings earlier.
But of course, Rain or Shine would want none of that to happen, keen on accomplishing its goal of chalking up nine wins to secure a twice-to-beat for, of course, a quicker path to the final four–granted they make good use of it.
Still, it knows that it wouldn’t be any easy, with Ginebra hungry for redemption after its five-game winning streak got snapped by Meralco last Friday.
And it won’t simply be about regaining their groove, with Coach Tim Cone & Co. looking to keep their twice-to-beat hopes up since they’re already at third.
The game is basically a coin flip, according to Casino Plus sportsbook, with Ginebra only being a +1.5 underdog. The over/under is set at 210.0.
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Plus, the Kings would want to create more separation with Meralco, which is also trying to stay, if not climb, the Top Four by taking care of its own business.
The wards of Coach Luigi Trillo are hoping to win their three remaining games of the eliminations, and they’re looking to ace their first test against the Bossing, who are just fighting for pride after getting eliminated last Wednesday.
Favored are the Bolts as they will be taking on a team that’s bruised literally and figuratively, with Robert Upshaw III still uncertain due to a calf injury–the reason why they played all-Filipino and ultimately lost to Jenning Leung and Macau.
Still, they refuse to fall into complacency or any of that, simply looking to build off their aforementioned beatdown of Ginebra in an attempt to hit their target.
Meralco is the overwhelming favorite to win, according to Casino Plus’ sportsbook, as the Bolts are a 15.0 favorite to win. The over/under is set at 215.0. 
