TOP seed Talk N Text  and No. 3 Magnolia Pambansang Manok try to finish off their respective semifinal opponents  and  arrange a titular  showdown in the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup at the Don Honorio Ventura State University gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
     At 3-2, the Tropang Giga and the Hotshots need only to win over San Miguel Beer and Meralco, respectively, to  book a return trip to the finals in this coronavirus-delayed conference.
     The Tropang Giga get the first crack at the finals berth when they meet the ever-dangerous Beermen in the curtainraisler at 3 p.m.
       The Hotshots look to finish off the  hard-fighting Bolts in their own best-of-seven semifinal showdown  in the  second game at 6 p.m.
    Victories by both the Beermen and the Bolts will set the stage for  an interesting  seventh and deciding game on Sunday.
      Talk N Text coach Chot Reyes remain wary of SanMiguel but at the same time believes the return of  former MVP Kelly Williams  can help turn the series in their favor.
     "Having that extra body, that extra big guy to battle June Mar Fajardo and Mo Tautuaa helps a lot. They've been giving us huge problems through the series," said Reyes, referring to Williams.
     TNT superstar Jayson Castro agreed.
     Alam natin sobrang lakas ng San Miguel, at sanay sila sa playoffs. Pero kahit malakas sila, alam namin may tsansa kami if we can make our shots at kung lagpasan namin ang effort nila," said Castro.
     "Parang best-of-three so sobrang importante sa amin ito," said Castro.
     The Magnolia-Meralco showdown should also be exciting.
     "I know it's going to be difficult. Magnolia is going to be really ready for us next game, but we just have to do it one more time," said Meralco coach Norman  Black after the Bolts'  102-98 win in Game 5 that narrowed their deficit at 2-3.
  "I think we have to take the same attitude again Friday night: do-or-die. There are no tomorrows for us," added Black.
   Black should also be happy  with Meralco's 5-1 record in no-tomorrow games since last year with its  only loss coming at the hands of Barangay Ginebra. Robert Andaya

Kelly Williams of Talk N Text shoots over June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel in Game 5 of their PBA semifinal showdown. PBA photo
 This free site is ad-supported. Learn more
​