Phoenix, Meralco dispute last semis berth in KO match

Phoenix and Meralco will engage once more in a win-or-go-home battle. Dennis Acosta (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Phoenix and Meralco will play one more time on Friday night to determine which team will complete the semifinal cast of the PBA Governors' Cup.

The Fuel Masters and the Bolts will slug it out in the do-or-die quarterfinal match scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip-off at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Meralco forced the rubber match after trouncing Phoenix on Wednesday night at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.

[Related Story: Meralco forces rubber match vs Phoenix with rout]

"It's just one game, and we need two," said Coach Norman Black, whose Bolts side canceled out the Fuel Masters' twice-to-beat edge.

With that said, Black looks to completely knock out Phoenix and set a semifinal date with Alaska in a best-of-five series that begins on Sunday.

"We'll try to correct whatever errors we had [yesterday] in this game and try to come out better," Black vowed.

On the other hand, the Fuel Masters look to not just finally seal a Final Four clash with the Aces but also end a winless drought in the PBA playoffs.

Phoenix, with the loss on Wednesday night, is 0-5 in playoff games so far as a club.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno