The highly competitive elimination round now boils down to its final day.
The final twin bill that features a clash between Meralco and San Miguel and a collision between Magnolia and Rain or Shine at the PhilSports Arena on Friday, Dec. 2, will have major implications to the playoff picture of the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
All eyes, however, are on the main event between the Hotshots and the Elasto Painters at 5:45 p.m. as its results will not only affect the two playing teams but also holdthe fate of curious spectators in Ginebra and NLEX.
The Beermen, on the other hand, look to solidify their hold of the fifth spot of the standings against the also-ran Bolts in the curtain raiser at 3 p.m.
Rain or Shine currently sits at the eighth spot of the standings with a 5-6 record and a win would formalize its entry to the playoffs while also eliminating NLEX, which is currently at the 10th spot with a 5-7.
An Elasto Painters, loss, however would drop them to a tie with NLEX at eighth spot, forging a do-or-die game on Sunday, Dec. 4.
Out to ensure that their team wouldn’t be playing an extra game day though are the Elasto Painters young guns in Andrei Caracut, Anton Asistio, Gian Mamuyac along with the team leaders in Gabe Norwood, Beau Belga and Rey Nambatac who finally found his touch in Rain or Shine’s 116-97 win over Blackwater last week.