RAIN or Shine and Barangay Ginebra will try to arrange a semifinal showdown in the PBA 50th Season Commissioner's Cup against separate quarterfinal foes on Friday at the Ynares Center-Antipolo. RAIN or Shine may have the No. 3 seed and the twice-to-beat advantage for the quarterfinals of the PBA 50th Season Commissioner's Cup, but it is understandable why its opponent in sixth-ranked San Miguel may still be slightly favored. The Beermen are perhaps the most dangerous among the bottom four teams in the first round of the playoffs due to the fact the June Mar Fajardo and Cjay Perez-led team is coming off a conquest in the Philippine Cup.
SAN MIGUEL VS. RAIN OR SHINE
When: Friday, May 15. 5:15 p.m.
Where: Ynares Center-Antipolo
Rain or Shine seeks semis berth
The Elasto Painters go for a spot in the semis when they take on the Beermen. After reaching the semis thrice in the last season, Rain or Shine could only come up with a quarters finish in the previous conference when it was beaten by Meralco despite a twice-to-beat advantage.
RoS is in the same situation this conference where it also has a playoff incentive, but hopes that won't even have to come into play by finishing the job right away vs. the Beermen.
SMB tries to arrange KO bout
San Miguel looks to fight another day by beating Rain or Shine. The Beermen finished at No. 6 at the end of elims, but if there is a team that can overcome a twice-to-win disadvantage, it's most definitely them.
One of the times that SMB overcame this exact predicament was in the 2019 Comm's Cup where the then-No. 7 seed downed No. 2 NorthPort.
Expect high-scoring game
Rain or Shine and San Miguel emerged as the most prolific teams in the elims in terms of offense. The Elasto Painters were No. 1 in points scored with an average of 112, while the Beermen were No. 2 at 106.5.
Bennie could be the difference
San Miguel lost to Rain or Shine, 116-112, in its elims game last April 8. But the Elasto Painters will be facing a different Beermen import this time with Bennie Boatwright replacing Justin Patton.
That being said, Elasto Painters coach Yeng Guiao is comfortable with how his team is being viewed.
"We embrace the thought that we're still considered the underdogs vs. SMB," he said. "That's been our whole identity ever since. We come to compete on Friday without doubt and hesitation that we have what it takes to win and get to the next level."
RoS' confidence against SMB
Fueled by their run-and-gun game, RoS clinched the third seed with a 9-3 record at the end of eliminations, with one of its victories a 116-112 decision against San Miguel last April 8.
The Elasto Painters push forward with the first of their two chances at clinching a semifinal berth on Friday, 5:15 p.m. at the Ynares Center-Antipolo.
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