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RoS out to prove worthy of No.2 spot, faces Ginebra in KO match


MANILA, Philippines – Rain or Shine guns for its first-ever outright semi-finals berth Sunday against a Ginebra team jolted by a shocking and painful defeat the other night in a do-or-die Motolite-PBA Fiesta Conference game at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City. Alaska and Coca-Cola likewise go through a knockout match in the 4:00 p.m. opener, this time for the right to claim the eighth spot and avoid being relegated to a position with a twice-to-beat disadvantage. “It will be a 50-50 chance," said Elasto Painters coach Caloy Garcia on the eve of the franchise’s biggest single game contest. “It’s going to be tough and we need to stop their running game and keep the crowd uninvolved." The Elasto Painters should’ve already been preparing for Barako Bull had Ginebra conquered Alaska in its final game of the 14-match elimination round. But the Gin Kings got buried by 21 points early, made a vicious fourth quarter run but had no defense against Willie Miller when the two-time most valuable player winner went for a drive and made the game-winning shot with 4.7 seconds left in a thrilling 76-75 contest. Instead of planning for their three-week break, the Gin Kings now find themselves having to contend with a team that’s well-rested and hungry to prove that they deserve to be No. 2. “We can’t afford to start poorly again," said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico. “We have to play hard for 48 full minutes. If we want to make the semis outright, we have to work hard for it." Ginebra actually ended up in a three-way tie for second spot with Rain or Shine and Burger King. The Gin Kings and the Elasto Painters, however, are the ones with better quotients than the Whoppers, who will have to settle for the No. 4 spot come next round. – GMANews.TV
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