THREE of the four teams eyeing a top four slot in the PBA Governors Cup quarterfinals face big hurdles when they see action today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Two of them, TNT and Ginebra, clash at 7 p.m. while the third, Meralco battles Columbian at 4:30.

Aside from taking over top spot from idle NLEX, the KaTropa are also going for a top four finish in the eliminations that carries with it a twice-to-beat advantage in the next round as well as aching to see how they play with new acquisitions Bobby Ray Parks and Mike Digregorio.

Especially Parks, Blackwater’s erstwhile top scorer who was acquired for Don Trollano, Anthony Semerad and a future draft pick only last week.

“Excited to see how we play,” said TNT coach Bong Ravena. “Ray is going to be good for us, but it’s more about how we play as a team. We gave up a lot, but we’re very fortunate to get Ray.”

Parks came in after the KaTropa got waylaid by the Road Warriors 113-126 last Oct. 25, cutting short TNT’s unbeaten start to seven games.

“We have won so many games the last three conferences that it is human nature for complacency to start setting in. We have to go back to being the team that outhustles our opponent,” said Ravena.

Ginebra is also coming off a bad loss, a 77-101 drubbing from Meralco last Sunday and should want nothing less than to get back on a top four track.

That loss, coupled with San Miguel Beer’s 99-96 overtime win over Blackwater last Wednesday, relegated the Kings to fifth, just half-a-game ahead of Magnolia, which notched a 97-81 win over Phoenix Pulse later Wednesday.

“It’s a challenge for both of us since we’re both coming from a loss,” Ravena said. “We should stay focused and play as a team.”

That win by the Bolts put them at third and they should cement that position should they prevail over the Dyip.

Meralco coach Norman Black knows Columbian comes with its own motivation.

“It’s certainly a game we can’t take for granted,” said Black. “Columbian is battling for a playoff spot and they have a very good import in (Khapri) Alston. We will have to try and keep him off the offensive boards.”

Should Columbian pull off an upset, the Dyip would least play off for the last quarterfinals spot and could even automatically make it among the eight teams advancing with another win against Ginebra on Nov. 15.

Getting the job done right now is what coach Johnedel Cardel wants from his charges. “A lot depende sa outcomes ng natitirang ibang games. Pero para mas sigurado kailangan manalo,” said Cardel, whose team has not made past the eliminations in his previous three conferences at the helm.

SAN Miguel Beer and Blackwater try to snap out of their funk when they collide today in the PBA Governors Cup at the Astrodome.

Equally critical is the nightcap pitting Magnolia and Phoenix Pulse, with the Hotshots aiming to stay within sight of a top four finish and the Fuel Masters trying to keep their hopes alive of making the playoffs.

First, however, Phoenix must put behind it’s sorry 104-106 loss to Columbian last Oct. 25, the Fuel Masters’ second straight loss.

Still, Phoenix coach Louie Alas remained upbeat, saying: “ ‘Yung chances namin okay pa.

“I mean, we just have to take care of our three remaining games. Iyun ang maganda, nasa kamay namin ang kapalaran namin sa playoffs,” added Alas, whose team takes on Alaska on Nov. 15 and Blackwater two days later.

Adding to Alas’ guarded optimism is the fact Matthew Wright, who missed Phoenix’s last two games due to personal reasons, is back.

“The hard thing is, Magnolia kalaban, the champion team last year,” Alas pointed out.

The Hotshots are on a high after beating Columbian last Oct. 27, cutting short the defending champions’ three-game slide.

Aside from Romeo Travis, Ian Sangalang and Paul Lee, Phoenix now also has to deal with do-it-all guard Chris Banchero, whom Magnolia recently acquired from Alaska.

“Another very important game for us. Since we’re in the middle of the standings the game will be crucial for us,” said Hotshots coach Chito Victolero.

“The addition of Banchero will help us a lot in terms of our execution and also iyung energy na maibibigay niya sa amin every time he’s on the floor.”

The day’s curtain-raiser should also be a pivotal one. Fifth-running SMB not only wants to arrest a two-game slide but also aims to fan its hopes of finishing the eliminations among the top four and earn the twice-to-beat reward for the next round.

Blackwater snapping out of its own four-game tailspin is its most immediate concern. But the Elite’s fate would still hinge on whether they could rack up another win against Phoenix next Friday.

Should the Elite finish the elims with four wins they would play off for the eighth and last quarterfinals spot, providing all the other contenders finish with the same number of victories.

In such a scenario, quotients will be used to break ties before determining the two teams that will dispute the last quarterfinals berth.

That slim hope is good enough for Blackwater coach Aris Dimaunahan. “Basta we will give our best effort in our last game and then see where it takes us,” he said.

For certain—and whatever situation it falls into—Blackwater has its sights on assimilating the new players it has recently acquired through trades.

PLAYERS who can readily make an immediate impact while helping their new teams prosper in the future.

That’s the main reason the parties involved gave for their respective decisions to enter into trades this late in the PBA season.

“We made the move for the future,” coach Bong Ravena explained, referring to the deal that netted TNT Bobby Ray Parks Jr. from Blackwater for Don Trollano, Anthony Semerad and a future draft pick.

“Adding another playmaker who can also defend at a high level around our franchise player, Jayson Castro, will make us so much tougher,” added Ravena.

That was basically the same reason Elite coach Aris Dimaunahan gave. “In a way, looking forward and heading into a different direction na ang franchise,” he said.

“We got solid guys na makakapaglaro ng opensa at depensa and who are willing to do the dirty work,” added Dimaunahan. “For sure, they could help us immediately and in the long run.”

The trade was approved by Commissioner Willie Marcial last Sunday night, along with a separate deal that sent Alaska guard Chris Banchero to Magnolia in exchange for frontliners Rodney Brondial and Robbie Herndon.

If rumors turn out to be true, the Aces are far from done.

Persistent reports have it that forward Vic Manuel is bound for Phoenix Pulse in exchange for a package anchored on fellow forward Jason Perkins.

Manuel said he has already heard of such reports and is ready. “Narinig ko na rin ‘yan kasi last week, kinausap na rin ako ni coach Jeff (Cariaso) ‘tsaka ni coach Danny (Ildefonso) about diyan,” he said Sunday.

“Siyempre ako, ready lang ako sa kung anong mangyayari, kung ano ‘yung magiging resulta,” added the seven-year pro.

“Talagang maraming changes sa Alaska ngayon. Waiting na lang kung anong mangyayari.

Kung mag-i-stay, okay di ba? Kung ma-trade, ganu’n talaga. Kailangan tanggapin natin kung anong magiging changes pa sa darating na linggo.”

It seems TNT is done dealing, or until such time as Ravena finds out how the Parks deal turns out.

“We gave up a lot to get him,” said Ravena. “We love both Don and Tony. Both of them fit in well with us. I just could not turn down the chance to get a player who can defend positions 1 to 4.”

AS ordered, Manny Harris did not score as much but still played a big role as NLEX walloped Rain or Shine last night to hit a twin target in the PBA Governors Cup at the Astrodome.

Harris notched 29 points, way below his two-game norm of 42.5, but added 12 rebounds and a personal league-high 11 assists for his first triple double in the season-ending conference that powered the Road Warriors to their fourth straight win, a 111-91 decision.

Jericho Cruz, Kiefer Ravena and JP Erram came off the bench to act as chief backstop to their import as NLEX officially claimed a quarterfinals slot and took over top spot from previous victim TNT with a 7-1 record.

“Right now, we’re in the position where we want to be,” said Road Warriors coach Yeng Guiao, whose team did not make it past the eliminations in the current season’s first two conferences, even finishing in the cellar in the last Commissioner’s Cup.

That makes occupying the top spot, even if only for a short time, that much sweeter.

“Ni sa panaginip hindi namin akalain na makaka-number 1 kami at this point in the tournament,” admitted Guiao.

“We go into a 12-day break, so we will enjoy the break for the meantime. But I know na very fragile ito,” added Guiao, whose team next takes on Magnolia on Nov. 10.

“Alam namin na konting mali mo, p’wede kang bumagsak. I hope we could hold on to it as long as we can. Importante lang sa amin maka-top four kami para may twice-to-beat advantage.”

More wins in their last three elimination round games and NLEX could even realize a top four finish that carries with it a win-once advantage over a lower-ranked foe in the eight-team quarterfinals.

The loss, its seventh in nine games, dropped Rain or Shine to the bottom of the 12-man field.

Richard Ross, the Elasto Painters’ fourth import for the conference, had a decent debut with 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists but was plagued by foul trouble that limited him to just over 28 minutes of action.

That only worsened the manpower troubles of Rain or Shine, which went into the game missing the services of the injured James Yap (groin) but also had to make do without Rey Nambatac (ankle).

Javee Mocon was foremost among those who tried to pick up the slack, tallying 17 points on top of eight boards.

Jewel Ponferrada and Kris Rosales also tried their best and wound up with at least 10 points each, but those were simply not enough to sustain a fine start by the E-Painters that netted them as much as a 25-13 lead in the first quarter.

As the game wore on, however, NLEX’s game continued cranking up at least a notch with Harris leading the way by design, according to Guiao.

“Good thing about Manny is, nag-uusap kami,” related Guiao. “Sinasabi ko sa kanya, ‘You don’t have to score that many points. You facilitate, you involve the others, we can still win, spread out our offense.’ Naintindihan n’ya iyon. ‘Yun kasing 40, 40-plus points every game that is not sustainable. We know we still have to rely on the team and move the ball around, find the open people.”

With Ravena adding six dimes and Cruz five, NLEX wound up with 28 assists to Rain or Shine’s 18.

The Road Warriors also overcame their rough shooting start to finish making 43 of 83 shots to the E-Painters’ 37-of-98 clip.

EVERYONE knows NLEX coach Yeng Guiao has pinpointed the Rain or Shine players his Road Warriors must contain. So the Elasto Painters decided to throw in an unknown.

NLEX and Guiao will do battle with a Rain or Shine side that is unveiling a new import today in Richard Moss as it bids to keep its hopes alive in the PBA Governors Cup at the Astrodome.

Ginebra duels struggling Blackwater in the nightcap, with the Kings gunning for a fourth straight win that will move them alongside idle Meralco for third.

The twin-bill is the league’s last before taking a break for the All-Souls and All-Saints Days and both Blackwater and Rain or Shine sorely want momentum for their stretch run in the eliminations.

The Elite are out to snap a three-game slide and, like Rain or Shine, Phoenix Pulse and Alaska, keep their flickering hopes alive of gaining inclusion among the eight teams advancing to the quarterfinals.

“We have to compete for us to give ourselves a chance,” said Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia, whose team tangles with San Miguel Beer on Nov. 9 before winding up the eliminations against Meralco on Nov. 17.

NLEX has no such problem. It has closed in on an outright quarterfinals seat via a 126-113 win over erstwhile unbeaten TNT last Friday.

Should the Road Warriors rack up a fourth straight win, they will book a ticket to the next round and tie the KaTropa at 7-1 but wrest top spot due to the winner-over-the-other rule.
That’s easier said than done, according to Guiao.

“You can’t look at Rain or Shine’s win-loss record and judge their abilities. They are a lot more than what their record says,” said Guiao.

“We have a long break after this game and it would be nice to reward ourselves with a tie for first place if we can carve out a win versus Rain or Shine,” added Guiao, whose team goes up next against Magnolia on Nov. 10.

Guiao also wants his charges to keep tabs on Rain or Shine’s backcourt, led by Rey Nambatac. “Their young guards are dangerous and more so when they mature,” he noted.

Nambatac sprained his ankle late in the E-Painters’ 89-98 loss to Ginebra last Saturday but is still expected to see action today.

A lot would also be expected of Ross, a former starter at Old Dominion who arrived last Sunday and is now Rain or Shine’s fourth import in the conference after Joel Wright, Kayel Locke and Kwame Alexander, who also got injured in the Ginebra game.

“We changed imports so we hope he will be able to adjust to the style of play here,” said Garcia. “Hopefully, he’ll give us energy and rebounds.”

After going undrafted in the 2015 NBA draft, the 27-year-old mostly plied his wares overseas, making stops in Norway, Bolivia, Australia, Luxembourg and China.