Alaska Milk and Blackwater face off for a piece of lead in a Sunday blockbuster ushering in the last seven play dates of the PBA Governors Cup elimination round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Aces and the Elite clash at 6:45 p.m. with the winner catching at with the Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots and the Barangay Ginebra Kings at the helm at 7-2.
More importantly, the victor builds momentum and confidence going to the homestretch and eventually the finish where the Top Four gain twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.
The Columbian Dyip's smashing first win in the tourney coming at the expense of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Friday gave the Aces, the Elite and even the Phoenix Fuel Masters a free lift to the quarters, joining early qualifiers Magnolia and Ginebra.
The Hotshots (7-2), the Kings (7-2), the Aces (6-2), the Elite (6-2) and the Fuel Masters (6-3) are now all focused on a drive to the Top Four.
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The remaining games are virtually playoff matches for these five teams.
"Parang playoff stage na ito para sa amin," said Blackwater coach Bong Ramos.
Alaska coach Alex Compton is well aware of the complexities of the games that he's pushing his team to play to the best of their abilities at all times.
That's why Compton wasn't happy even with their 104-94 triumph over Columbian Dyip the last time out.
"We won the game, but I'm really unhappy the way we played," said Compton. "I think we're a stronger team than Columbian, but I don't think that we played the way we were supposed to."
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The Elite, on the other hand, were awful in a 99-133 blowout by the Hotshots in their last outing.
But Ramos and his troops are likely to have put behind them that shattering loss in a game where frustration got the better of the Elite. There was import Henry Walker banished from the game due to technical fouls. Even team manager Joel Co drew a "T."
The Elite were on a hot run before being stopped by the Hotshots. (SB)
