By Jonas Terrado

Games Wednesday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4:30 p.m. — NorthPort vs San Miguel

7 p.m. — TNT KaTropa vs Alaska

San Miguel Beer and Alaska try to complete the upset of their higher-ranked opponents in a pair of knockout quarterfinal matches in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Beermen look to end the dream run of the No. 2-ranked NorthPort Batang Pier in the 4:30 p.m. while the Aces look to defy the odds anew against the top seed TNT KaTropa at 7 p.m.

Chris McCullough goes up for a shot against NorthPort defenders. (PBA Images)

Both teams pulled off contrasting victories last Sunday at the Big Dome to push their twice-to-beat foes to a do-or-die encounter.

Displaying its familiarity in pressure situations, the Beermen broke loose in the fourth quarter to produce a 98-84 win while the KaTropa stunned everyone with a 108-72 romp of the KaTropa.

Experience will be one of the advantages of SMB, which has an 11-5 record in elimination games since coach Leo Austria took charge in the 2014-15 season.

Import Chris McCullough, June Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter and Chris Ross hope to bring the Beermen to the semis while Terrence Romeo will attempt to be more calmer after flashing a dirty finger in the previous meeting.

The gesture is expected to result in a fine from the PBA Commissioner’s Office.

Rookie Robert Bolick, meanwhile, is determined to deliver another impressive game after scoring 20 in a losing effort to bring NorthPort to the semis for the first time since the 2016 Philippine cup.

Alaska seeks to become the fourth No. 8 team in PBA history to beat the top-seeded squad in the quarters.

But coach Alex Compton expects TNT to come back with a vengeance after being handed its worst defeat of the conference.

Import Terrence Jones is eager to regain his dominant form after being held to 19 points behind Alaska’s pesky defense.

Meanwhile, a punishment is in store for suspended Phoenix Pulse cager Calvin Abueva for appeared in a tournament in Rizal without the go-ahead signal of his team.

Phoenix is set to hand Abueva a fine while the league is studying the possibility of meting an additional sanction for breaching PBA rules.

Tags: Alex Compton , Chris McCullough , June Mar Fajardo , NorthPort Batang Pier , NorthPort Batang Pier Team , PBA , PBA Commissioner’s Cup , Philippine Basketball Association , Philippine Cup , Phoenix Pulse , Robert Bolick , San Miguel , San Miguel Beer , San Miguel Beermen , Terrence Jones , Terrence Romeo , TNT Katropa