Games today:

(Ninoy Aquino Stadium)

5 p.m. — Meralco vs Barangay Ginebra

7:30 p.m. — Converge vs Rain or Shine

Drawing first blood is one thing, closing out a series is another.

Barangay Ginebra and Converge are in for a tough grind against their desperate foes as they try to clinch their semifinals seats today in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

“It’s gonna be tougher,” Kings assistant coach Richard del Rosario said of what Game 2 of their best-of-three quarterfinals series against Meralco will be.

Tipoff is set at 5 p.m., followed by the 7:30 p.m. clash between the FiberXers and Rain or Shine.

Ginebra asserted its mastery over the Bolts, 100-92, in the series opener last Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Facing for the 10th time in the playoffs, familiarity played a huge factor in Game 1.

The teams went neck-and-neck before the Kings found an opening midway in the final period to pull away for good and notch their fifth straight win over the Bolts since sweeping them in three games in the season-opening Governors’ Cup quarters.

Having faced Meralco too many times, Del Rosario knows that taking their opponent for dead will be a big mistake.

The Kings acknowledge that the Bolts, the reigning Philippine Cup champs, will not go down without a fight with their campaign at stake. Import Akil Mitchell has already recovered from back spasms that had him sidelined for two games and is expected to go all-out to extend the series to a rubber match.

“They know what we’re doing, (they’re) very familiar (with us) and their import looks like he’s already recovered from a back injury. He gave us a lot of problems and their guards got into the paint. So, we still have a lot to work on defensively,” the deputy added.

Scottie Thompson, who had a superb all-around performance in Game 1, resident import Justine Brownlee, Japeth Aguilar, RJ Abarrientos, Troy Rosario and Stephen Holt will try to bring Ginebra to a seventh straight semis appearance.

Meanwhile, Converge is on the verge of a breakthrough semis stint following a controversial, 130-118, win in Game 1 last Wednesday.

The FiberXers took advantage of the Elasto Painters losing import Deon Thompson after getting whistled for a sixth foul early in the third period as they completed a come-from-behind win after overhauling a 17-point first quarter deficit.

Head coach Franco Atienza braces for a highly motivated Rain or Shine in the pivotal match.

“We need to close it out on Friday. I know coach Yeng (Guiao) will make adjustments since we’re facing a great team. We just have to be ready and do the things that we did well,” Atienza said.

“Hopefully, we’ll get a better start on Friday.”

For Guiao, the series is still far from over although he took a swipe at the officiating in the series opener.

“It’s not yet over since we still have a game on Friday,” he said.

“But then again, it’s a shame what happened (in Game 1). It could’ve been a better game if it had just been well officiated,” Guiao added.

The fiery mentor lamented the three quick fouls called against Thompson including his last with 8:34 in the third canto on a landing spot infraction against Cheick Diallo.

Rain or Shine was ahead by a slim 73-72 margin when Thompson fouled out and eventually crumbled from there.

“The referees ruined the game,” he said.