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THE battle for the last two semis berths in the 33rd Smart-PBA
Philippine Cup starts Wednesday with Alaska facing Coca-Cola and Red
Bull meeting Magnolia in the quarterfinal round at the Cuneta
Astrodome.
Sonny Barrios, still undecided whether to accept
or decline his designation as league commissioner, said the odds in
both matches are now even because it’s already a different
intensity and statistics normally are set aside in favor of
determination and fighting heart.
“Which team has a strong fighting heart will
win the series,” said Barrios in Tuesday’s PSA Forum at
Shakey’s UN Avenue branch.
“I took note of the games of the four teams,
they are really making a high performance,” added Barrios.
The Tigers meet the Aces in the first match at
4:50 p.m. to be followed by the Red Bull-Magnolia encounter at 7:20
p.m.
The winner between Alaska and Coca-Cola will
advance in the best-of-seven semifinals against Sta. Lucia Realty
while Red Bull and Magnolia will dispute the right to face Purefoods
in the other semis match.
Alaska beat Coca-Cola twice in the elims—98-94
on October 26 and 117-106 on November 28.
Coca-Cola downed Talk ‘N Text, 81-73, on
January 18 and eliminated Air21, 109-102, on January 20 to earn the
fourth and last quarterfinals berth.
Red Bull also swept Magnolia in the double-round
elimination—107-95 on November 23 and 94-88 on December 8.
-- Frank Calapre
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