Magnolia Beverage Masters Basketball Games Updates

Alaska Aces Eye 10th Win vs. Magnolia

The team's loss to the Air21 Express blow away our high chances of making it to the semi-finals outright. There's a slim chance but it all boils down to Red Bull losing its last two gammes.

With that, it would be better to just focus first on winning this game to prevent complications going into the quarterfinals round.

The Alaska Aces is a team not to be taken lightly. It has won its gamme against the Coca-Cola Tigers even without reigning MVP Willie Miller at the hem.

I'm confident that Magnolia can win this basketball gamme provided that they play good ballgame tonight in 48 minutes of action.

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Source: Manila Bulletin Online
By WAYLON GALVEZ

Rampaging Alaska Milk continues its drive for one of the two automatic semifinals berths of the Smart PBA Fiesta Cup without ace gunner Willie Miller today.

With the two-time MVP Miller still out due to a viral infection, the defending champions Alaska Aces meet the dangerous Magnolia Beverage Masters at 4:30 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum.

In the 6:30 main match, Talk ’N Text battles Barangay Ginebra.

So far, Air21, with its league-best 11-6 record, has earned at least a playoff ticket for one of two outright Final Four berths given to the top two finishers after the elimination phase.

The third to fifth teams will get automatic quarterfinal seats while the sixth to seventh teams will play in the wild card for the last quarters’ spot.

The third-running Alaska Aces, with their 9-7 card , are just a basketball gamme behind secondplaced Red Bull and 1 ½ games behind the Express while Magnolia and Coca-Cola, with similar 9-8 cards, and TNT, which sports an 8-8 record, have slim chances for a playoff.

However, it is not entirely in the hands of the Magnolia Beverage Masters, the Tigers and the Phone Pals to get a playoff as a win by the Bulls in their last two basketball games – either against TNT on Friday or Philippine Cup champion Sta. Lucia Realty on July 6 – will end their bids.

A setback by Magnolia and Talk ’N Text will also relegate them in the fight for outright quarters with Ginebra (7-8) and Purefoods TJ Hotdogs (8-9).

Meanwhile, the PBA is set to honor Alaska Milk Corporation president and chief executive officer Wilfred Steven Uytengsu Jr. for his recent achievements at halftime of the Alaska-Magnolia duel.

Uytengsu, the former two-time PBA chairman, was recently named the Philippines’ Ernst & Young 2007 Entrepreneur of the Year and represented the Philippines at the Ernst and Young World Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, an event honoring more than 40 entrepreneurs around the world in Monte Carlo, Monaco last May 31, 2008.

He was also conferred the "Masters Entrepreneur" for exemplifying sound management practices in the areas of finance, shareholder value, corporate governance, marketing, human resources and sales as well as fostering strong relationship with his employees, customers and suppliers.