Vital PBA games: Llamados, 2 others seek playoff berths

Currently on a roll, Derby Ace guns for a vital win against lowly Barako Coffee in one of its next two highly-important games in the Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Cup. A win by the Llamados will set them up for a knockout playoff match against sister team San Miguel Beer for the last automatic semifinals berth. But the Energy Coffee Masters are expected to play with double urgency as no less than the team’s survival hinges in the balance. The Photokina franchise is looking to win this one to forge a sudden-death encounter with Air21 (4-14) for the last slot in the wildcard stage. Although the Llamados easily beat Barako Coffee in their first-round meeting, 93-80, the Energy Coffee Masters played without the benefit of Monroe, who served a one-game suspension back then for a Flagrant Foul Penalty 2 he committed in the previous game. With a shot at an outright semifinals seat on the line, Derby Ace mentor Ryan Gregorio is definitely not about to take a chance even against a team like Barako Coffee (3-14). “We don’t want to leave anything to chance," said Gregorio. “Marc (Pingris) will be tasked to contain Monroe. We know how important the game is for Barako, but we have a goal." The Llamados need to win over the Energy Coffee Masters in their final elimination round assignment in order to forge a tie for second place with the Beermen, an 85-74 winner over the Alaska Aces in the PBA out-of-town game in Dumaguete, Saturday. The Beermen ended their elims campaign with a 13-5 record, just half game ahead of the Llamados. Rain or Shine and Coca-Cola also share center stage in the final day of the eliminations at the Araneta Coliseum. The two teams kick off the scheduled doubleheader, whose winner gets to earn the right to face Ginebra in a one-game playoff set Wednesday for the last outright berth in the quarterfinals. The Elasto Painters put themselves in a position to make a last-minute push for a quarterfinals slot by rallying back from 28 points down to beat Air21, 113-111, Friday night behind Ryan Arana’s game-winning putback. The team trailed 88-60 in the third period but inched their way back into the game behind the hot shooting hands of new import Rod Nealy. Nealy, the former Barangay Ginebra reinforcement, exploded for 41 points, including 19 in the pivotal fourth, which he capped by firing three three-pointers. On the other hand, Coca-Cola earned the chance to shoot for a quarterfinals berth by winning its last three matches, including an 87-76 drubbing of Sta. Lucia Friday night. “Our aggressiveness on defense results in good offense," said Coca-Cola coach Bo Perasol. “Our challenge is to find a way how to stop Rod Nealy. Now, we need two more wins to make the outright quarterfinals. They have to take up the challenge. We should elevate our ambition more." - RCJ, GMANews.TV