WITH top seed Magnolia already in the semis after dispatching TNT in their quarterfinal duel, No. 2 San Miguel Beer and No. 3 Barangay Ginebra hope to get the job done against Rain or Shine and NorthPort, respectively, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Philsports Arena.

The Beermen and the Gin Kings enjoy twice-to-beat advantages in the quarterfinals and victories over the E-Painters and the Batang Pier would send them to the next round.

Led by import Bennie Boatwright, June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Jericho Cruz, Marcio Lassiter and Mo Tautuaa, the Beermen are looking to duplicate their 115-110 victory over the E-Painters in their lone elimination round meeting.

But that will be easier said than done , especially with the Yeng Guiao-mentored E-Painters riding on a six-game winning streak anchored on import Demetrius Treadwell and local standouts Andrei Caracut, Santi Santillan, Beau Belga, and Keith Datu.

Treadwell, who came in as a replacement for Dajuan Summers, was mainly responsible for the E-Painters’ surge.

In the 8 p.m. second game, the Tony Bishop-led Kings also hope to make short work of the sixth-seeded Batang Pier and their hard-working import Venky Jois.

The Batang Pier have never been into the semis since the 2019 Governors’ Cup.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Robert Andaya