• DEFENDING champion Ginebra and Rain or Shine fight for the second outright semifinals berth Sunday in a sudden death playoff in the 2009 PBA-Motolite Fiesta Conference at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.

The Kings and the Elasto Painters, who both completed the classification phase with identical 8-6 slates, collide at 6:30 p.m., while Alaska and Coca-Cola figure in another rubber match for the eighth spot at 4 p.m.

Ginebra was forced to the playoff following a pulsating 76-75 setback to Alaska the other day, thanks to Willie Miller’s gutsy drive in the last 4.7 seconds of the game.

The Kings’ loss forged a three-way tie at second along with the Elasto Painters and the Burger King Titans at the end of the elimina­tion, but Ginebra and Rain or Shine came up with the better quotient to earn the playoff slots.

Both the Kings and the Elasto Painters split their two meetings in the elimination round.

In the other match, Coca-Cola, which won over San Miguel
Beer in its last assignment (105-89), has the edge over Alaska by
vir­­tue of its 89-85 victory in their lone elimination round encounter
last April 12.

The winner between the Tigers and the Aces will settle for the eighth
spot and will face the No. 7 finisher Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters in the wildcard phase.

At the end of the classification, the No. 3 squad and No. 4 Burger King will enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage against No. 10 Barako Bull and the No. 9 fi­nisher, respectively, while No. 5 Sta. Lucia squares off with No. 6 Purefoods in the other knockout affair