Phoenix, San Miguel collide in tune-up for PBA quarterfinal wars

Phoenix and San Miguel will try to look sharp heading into the much-awaited PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals that start next week, as they lock horns later tonight at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Both are currently caught in a four-way logjam at the bottom half of the Final Eight with 6-5 records, making their 7:30 PM meeting a tiebreaker as well.

Whatever happens, though, the two have already accepted that they are at a twice-to-win disadvantage in the playoffs’ first round against whichever team in the Top Four. All the math is now out the window.

Instead, it’s all about trying to polish their form and be as ready as possible to overcome a tough road to the semifinals.

The Beermen would like to finish the eliminations with three straight wins, with their last two at the expense of Meralco and Terrafirma, in that order.

San Miguel’s 126-110 rout of the Dyip, coupled with Macau’s 105-98 upset of the Fuel Masters last Wednesday, created the aforementioned multi-team tie.

That defeat to the guest team was Phoenix’s most recent outing, and the crew wants to head into the next round in high spirits.

It can do that by repeating against SMB, which it beat via a 109-103 decision early in the Season 50 Philippine Cup eliminations — in Antipolo as well.

Based on the Casino Plus sportsbook, Phoenix is a +6.0 underdog in the matchup, while the over/under is set at 215.0.

Wagers can be placed here: https://www.casinoplus.com.ph/home/inGame?name=basketball&title=SportBet.

Converge (4-7) and Blackwater (2-9), meanwhile, will open Saturday’s twin-bill at 5:15 PM in a bout between teams looking to end their campaigns on a high.

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There’s nothing to fight for but pride between these two young squads, with both of them coming off harsh beatings in their previous matches.

The FiberXers suffered a 100-81 rout to league leader NLEX last Saturday, and the next night saw the Bossing fall to Meralco by way of a 108-93 loss.

Casino Plus sportsbook sees Converge as a -6.5 favorite while the over/under is set at 209.0.