Two crucial matches involving four teams in the thick of the running in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup playoffs will be played Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Purefoods takes on Rain or Shine at 4 p.m. in the first game of a doubleheader that also features the match between Talk `N Text versus Barako Bull at 6 p.m.

Sta. Lucia put pressure on Purefoods Friday night when the Realtors turned back the Burger King Whopper, 83-79, to tie the Giants at 9-6 and a share of fifth place in the standings.

Already out in the race for the remaining automatic slot in the semifinals, the Giants and Realtors are now contesting one of three outright berths in the quarterfinals as both try to avoid going through the dangerous wildcard phase of the season-opening meet.

But Giants coach Ryan Gregorio remains upbeat about the Giants having control of their fate of landing a spot in the quarters.

“We will just take it one game at a time. Making it to the top 5 is not bad at all,” he said.

The Giants are coming off an 85-74 win over the Whopper on Christmas Day.

Rain or Shine, however, also faces its own survival issue, looking to add a win to its 4-11 record to assure itself of a place in the wildcard round.

At the moment, the Elasto Painters are just two games ahead of cellar-dweller Barako Bull (2-13) and a game in front of the Coca-Cola Tigers (3-12).

They lost their last game against the Realtors Wednesday, 91-95.

The second match between Talk `N Text and Barako Bull is just as significant as the curtain raiser.

The Tropang Texters’ slim bid to make the semifinals outright suffered a big blow the last time when they lost to Barangay Ginebra, 105-82, and fell to 10-6 overall.

The Energy Boosters, on the other hand, are also fresh from a loss, a 94-85 setback against San Miguel for their 11th straight loss, a franchise worst. [via]