Meg Derby Ace Llamados survived a ferocious endgame comeback by Rain or Shine to pull out an 86-84 squeaker over the Elasto Painters Friday night at the Cuneta Astrodome in the PBA Fiesta Conference. The Llamados improved their win-loss record to 9-5, bolstering their hopes of forcing a playoff for an automatic berth in the semifinals. This will happen if they win their three remaining games and hope that league leaders Talk N Text (13-2) and San Miguel (11-3) does not go beyond 13 wins. Rain or Shine slid to solo sixth place in the standings with a 7-7 card, dampening the Painters' chances of snaring one of the three outright quarterfinals berth. The loss put to naught the career-high 45 points scored by Sol Mercado who almost singlehandedly rallied the Painters after trailing the Llamados for most of the way. Derby Ace also defeated Rain or Shine, 75-67, in their first elimination round encounter. In the first game of the double-header, the Alaska Aces likewise dodged a bullet to score a riveting 98-94 win against the Air21 Express. New Air21 import Leroy Hickerson exploded for a season-best 46 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the floor, aside from grabbing 14 rebounds, as the Express nearly pulled the rug from under the Aces. Air21 was leading by five points midway in the fourth quarter when Alaska suddenly let loose a 12-0 barrage entering the homestretch to pour cold water on the streaking Express. Alaska improved to 9-6, tying idle Barangay Ginebra for fourth to fifth places in the rankings and firming up their bid for an outright quarterfinals slot. The loss kept the Express at second to last in the standings with 3-12 card. Diamon Simpson led Alaska with 24 points and 17 rebounds. Cyrus Baguio chipped in with 22 points, 14 of them in the pivotal fourth quarter. Alaska head coach Tim Cone said despite his team's victory, he has apprehensions on meeting the reinforced Express if the Aces fail to get an outright quarterfinals berth. “I don't want to play them in the wildcard. They're tough,” said Cone. “I told the players before the game that this is not a 3-11 team (Air21) because they have a new import and they're playing better.” Mike Cortez played his final game with Air21 Friday night as the Express traded him to Barangay Ginebra in exchange for Billy Mamaril.
