Quick Predictions: SMB-BWE, ALA-STAR, SMB-GBP, BGSM-MAH

(c) PBA Media Bureau

We are down to the last four games of the elimination round and big playoff advantages are up for grabs!

So, how about quick-fire predictions?

BWE-SMB

Blackwater is out of the playoff race so it is easy to count them out for this game. In reality though, that makes a young team like them, more dangerous. I will still put my money on the Beermen but a close game will not shock me.

ALA-STAR

This is the game with the highest stakes. The Star wants the W to secure the top spot while Alaska is aiming to fully secure a playoff birth!

The Aces are having troubles with the injury bug and that could lead to their demise. On the other hand, the Hotshots are slowly settling down with Ricardo Ratliffe.

If Abueva will be available tomorrow, I think I am going with the Aces. I can see Jefferson handling Ricardo very well and with what I saw in the Star's game against Meralco, stopping Ratliffe could be the key to beat the blue squad.

The return of Abueva will also give Alaska another playmaker which they badly need.

SMB-GBP

This is another high-stake game. San Miguel is trying to clinch one of the top 2 spots and they will only have a single day rest before this game. That is a good advantage for the Batang Pier who added three key players, recently.

Even with the advantage in terms of rest, I still think the Beermen will get the W here. They will overpower Globalport to win the game. But, there is the possibility that the Batang Pier can steal the W if they can build a good lead, early on.

MAH-BGSM

As long as the Kings don't get over-confident, they can easily play around the defense of the Enforcers. Mahindra just don't have the personnel to defend the loaded line-up of Ginebra.