Having blown two shots at a twice-to-beat quarterfinals bonus, the erstwhile unbeaten TNT KaTropa have two more cracks at it.
But they would rather get it sooner than later.
They go for it as they tangle with the Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots in the last Petron Blaze Road Showdown in the PBA Governors Cup at the University of Southeastern Philippines Gym in Davao.
The Hotshots are also determined to win the 5 p.m. game to avoid complications of a tie and settle at their spot in the post-elims play.
It's a duel between two teams reeling from sorry losses. The KaTropa dropped their last two games against the NLEX Road Warriors and the Barangay Ginebra Kings while the Hotshots blew away their game against the NLEX Road Warriors, 85-86, where they led by as many as 26 points.
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Magnolia's loss to NLEX effectively booted the Hotshots out of the running for the Top Four.
Despite back-to-back defeats, the KaTropa, meanwhile, remain in strong contention for the precious twice-to-beat advantage in the quarters on the strength of their 7-0 tournament start.
But they're up against tough rivals in the elims' homestretch, taking on Magnolia Saturday then San Miguel Beer in the final game on Wednesday.
NLEX and Meralco are two teams which have clinched a win-once bonus in the quarters with their identical 8-2 win-loss card.
Both are now contending for the No. 1 seeding.
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The Hotshots should have still been a Top Four contender if not for their grievous slip against the Road Warriors Sunday.
Even after squandering a 26-point bulge, the Hotshots had a grip of the game but eventually yielded the match as Jericho Cruz came from way, way out to follow up a missed free throw by Kiefer Ravena in the closing seconds.(SB)
