PBA: B-MEG shoots for semis berth, tries to oust Rain or Shine

B-MEG tries to move closer to clinching an outright semifinals berth in the PBA Commissioner's Cup as it faces still dangerous Rain or Shine Wednesday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. Thanks to import Denzel Bowles' monster game, the Llamados are now tied with defending champion Talk 'N Text on top of the standings. B-MEG now guns for the solo lead when they go for their sixth win in eight outings in the 7:30 p.m. main game. Bowles had been and intimidating presence for the Llamados, who are on a three-game winning run. He had 35 points, 18 rebounds, three steals and two block shots in B-MEG's 90-75 rout of the Alaska Aces in its last match. "Five wins get you a spot in the playoffs, but our goal is to make it to the semi-finals outright. That's what we're aiming for," said B-MEG coach Tim Cone. The Llamados are up against an Elasto Painters side fighting for survival. Rain or Shine, the worst team in the 10-team field with a 2-5 (win-loss) card, lived for another day following a stunning 113-83 upset of Air21. "We're not losing hope. Whatever happens, we'll try to win our next two games," said Elasto Painters coach Yeng Guiao, whose team's fate also hinges on how the other seven squads ahead of them would fare in the crucial stretch of the elimination round. Two of those squads, Petron and Barako Bull, tangle in the 5:25 p.m. curtain raiser. The Boosters parade a new import in Will McDonald in lieu of Nick Fazekas, and new acquisition Chico Lanete for rookie Marc Agustin, who was shipped to the Energy.   Both teams carry similar 3-4 (win-loss) records, although Petron is currently on a two-game skid. "'Yung mga natitirang laro ang importante ngayon, kaya dapat doon kami naka-focus. Kailangang-kailangan talaga dahil magiging masikip ang mundo namin kapag natalo pa,” said Petron coach Ato Agustin. "We simply can't afford another loss kaya all-out kami (on Wednesday)." In contrast, the Energy revived their sagging playoffs bid with a rousing 89-82 win over the Meralco Bolts in Tubod, Lanao del Norte over the weekend behind veteran guard Wynne Arboleda's hot-shooting hands and import Rodney White's triple-double effort (18 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists). "Second do-or-die game for us, so we must gather all our efforts towards that end," said Barako Bull mentor Junel Baculi. — JVP/KG, GMA News