PHOENIX will be battling to stay in contention for the quarterfinals on Sunday in the PBA 49th Season Philippine Cup.
The Fuel Masters are the only team outside the top eight that still has a shot at a quarterfinals berth heading into their contest at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Phoenix, though, will be taking on NLEX, which shares the second spot with San Miguel with a 6-2 record with aspirations to grab one of four twice-to-beat incentives.
The Fuel Masters are at ninth-place with a 2-6 record. With three games remaining, they can still reach five wins, the magic number so far with TNT, Rain or Shine, and Barangay Ginebra having that same output, as of posting time.
A loss, however, will oust Phoenix from contention, joining NorthPort, Blackwater, and Terrafirma who are all already bound to take an early vacation.
A Road Warriors win will complete the cast of quarterfinalists for the Philippine Cup, with the eight teams competing for seedings in the next two weeks until the end of the elimination round on June 15.
Control what you can control, Phoenix
The Fuel Masters are in dire need of a win, as they are on three-game losing skid, all of which coming against quarterfinals contenders in the Beermen, Gin Kings, and Elasto Painters.
If Phoenix hurdles NLEX on Sunday, it will have a light schedule remaining coming up in the also-ran Batang Pier and Bossing.
However, their chances of making it to the quarterfinals no longer rests on their shoulders. Once TNT and Rain or Shine reach six wins, it’s all over for the Fuel Masters.
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