STA. LUCIA tries to end its classification-phase schedule on a positive note when it faces dangerous Purefoods today in the Gran Matador PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Realtors-TJ Hotdogs battle is set at 6:35 p.m, right after the 4:10 match between FedEx and Coca-Cola.
Last Friday, Sta. Lucia fell to Shell thus hurting the Realtors’ chances of clinching an outright quarterfinals berth.
But even a victory tonight doesn’t guarantee them anything.
If they beat the TJ Hotdogs, the Realtors will hope Alaska, San Miguel and FedEx register a winloss record no better than a 10-8 card. If that happens, Sta. Lucia automatically snares a quarterfinals ticket.
Against Purefoods tonight, the Realtors must expect a tight contest.
Even without suspended import Lorenzo Coleman and injured Kerby Raymundo, the TJ Hotdogs nearly pulled off a victory against the FedEx Express last Thursday.
Purefoods guard James Yap, an emerging contender for Rookie of the Year honors, dropped a career-high 30 points in that game, including 15 in the fourth that nearly completed the upset.
With Coleman returning, Raymundo waiting to be fielded in and Yap expected to catch fire again, Sta. Lucia, playing their third game in five nights, will be challenged seriously.
In today’s opener, FedEx, one of several teams with a legitimate shot at an automatic semis berth, officially attempts to hand Coke a last-place ranking.
The favored Express, winners of three straight, needs to win today’s game before they face two title contenders in defending champion Barangay Ginebra (on May 25) and dynastic San Miguel (May 27).
If Coke loses, then the Tigers take a twice-to-win disadvantage going into the wildcard stage.
