Christmas bells ring at Big Dome

Leo Austria

PBA Images

MANILA, Philippines — It’s the most wonderful time of the year and for top-seeded San Miguel Beer and No. 4 Converge, it would be the perfect moment to clinch their semifinal tickets.

But No. 8 NLEX and No. 5 Barangay Ginebra are out to spoil the fun and drag their twice-to-beat opponents to a sudden death in three days’ time.

In the middle of Christmas festivities, the first four quarter finalists mind the store in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup playoffs at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The defending champion Beermen seek to cash in on their win-once incentive against the Road Warriors at 5:15 p.m. while the FiberXers eye a quick disposal of the Gin Kings at 7:30 p.m.

The Beermen are riding on a hot nine-game streak, which came after a sluggish 0-2 start, as they shoot for the clincher.

“Pagdating sa playoffs, wala na yung 9-2 standings, balik sa zero. Kailangang hindi kami mag-relax, may goal kami na makapasok sa finals at makuha ang championship,” said SMB titan June Mar Fajardo.

Of San Miguel’s two losses in the season-opening conference, one came from the Road Warriors, making payback a factor.

“It’s a good motivation for us. In the first game we lost to them by one point,” said Beermen coach Leo Austria, referring to their 84-85 defeat to start the conference.

NLEX held pole position at some point of the tournament and was the first to secure a quarterfinal seat. But a three-match skid to end the elims, while Robert Bolick was loaned to the Gilas team in the Southeast Asian Games, pulled the Road Warriors down to the No. 8. Bolick is back in harness for the win-or-go-home gig.

Meanwhile, fireworks are expected as the win-once FiberXers and the do-or-die Gin Kings face off.

This marks their first meeting since Converge’s 106-96 romp in a Nov. 14 game where coach Tim Cone had some few words with FiberXers counterpart Delta Pineda after rookie Juan Gomez de Liaño scored with the result already settled.

“I don’t know if revenge is the right word but we’re going to play with a sense of urgency,” said Ginebra guard Stephen Holt.

“I feel very confident with our guys and our experience and being under pressure. I guess the silver lining in our last two wins is we’re able to show resilience and ultimately claw the win. Anything happens in the playoffs and we’re just going take it one game at a time, fight for our lives on Christmas,” he added.