The race for the eighth spot is expected to reach its boiling point as San Miguel and Magnolia, two teams that are jockeying for positions, enter two crucial games on Sunday, Jan. 26, in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

The Beermen, who have the inside track for the eighth spot, boast a 5-6 record and half a game ahead of still playoff-chasing Hotshots and NLEX Road Warriors who both sport a 4-6 slate but are still outside the playoff picture.

Magnolia plays Eastern at 5 p.m. and SMB figures in a marquee duel with TNT at 7:30 p.m. in the twin bill that is seen to make serious implications to their respective chances of advancing to the quarterfinals.

For the Beermen, they only need a victory to put a world of pressure to the teams below them in the standings. SMB can close out the eliminations on a 6-6 record which means both Magnolia and NLEX must sweep their remaining games to get at least a chance for a do-or-die match.

A loss for SMB however could keep the race wide open for the eighth spot – a complication that head coach Leo Austria wants to avoid.

“That ‘s one of the most important games for us to avoid any complications. We have to win because contenders for the eighth place ang Magnolia and NLEX and they have two games left  so we’ll never know what will happen,” said the veteran coach.

SMB, however, has been inconsistent so far in the conference and its game against Converge somehow represented that as the Beermen barely survived the FiberXers even after taking a 19-point lead.

And the Beermen are under no illusions that the games against the Tropang Giga would go any easier since TNT is also trying to make a case for the Top 2 spots which merits a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

For Magnolia, on the other hand, its focus is on the task at hand against Eastern and worry about all the other scenarios after the game.

The Hotshots are well-rested heading into the contest after last playing on  Jan. 16, defeating the Phoenix Fuel Masters.

 And Magnolia needs all the help it could get in order to come out with a much-needed win against Eastern which dominated Terrafirma, 134-110 in its last game.