Published - Dream matchups kick off semis

By Nelson Beltran (The Philippine Star)

The PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals begin today with an expected grueling best-of-five series for the coveted final berths with the matchups teeming with subplots.

One is in pursuit of back-to-back championships against a team chasing a breakthrough win after an improbable run of four knockout victories and another squad out to end a three-year title drought against a guest team in search of history.

It’s Talk n Text versus Air21 and Barangay Ginebra against Smart Gilas Pilipinas in a pair of duels expected to seethe like the summer heat at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Tropang Texters and the Nationals are the odds-on favorites owing to their dominating performance in the elimination round and are coming into the series fresh from a two-week rest.

But their competitive edge may be suspect as well when ranged against the Express and the Kings coming in from the rigors of the quarterfinals and riding the crest of their morale-boosting wins.

That alone could help turn these series into dream showdowns.

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