SAN Beda and St. Benilde battle for a top two finish in their group as Arellano and Emilio Aguinaldo College clash for the same twice-to-beat incentive when the NCAA Season 102 seniors basketball eliminations wind down next week.
Only two of those teams will have that coveted privilege come the crossover quarterfinals as we draw to a close one exciting prelim phase.
First off, here's how the team standings look:
Group A
JRU - 10-3
San Beda - 9-3
CSB - 8-4
Mapua - 6-6
LPU - 4-8
Group B
Letran - 8-4
Arellano - 6-6
EAC - 6-6
Perpetual - 4-8
San Sebastian - 0-13
The top two teams from each group will enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage in the crossover quarterfinals, while the no. 4-seed will also have that twice-to-win incentive against the no. 5 team in its bracket in the play-in phase.
So far, Letran has secured the top seed in Group B as it awaits its quarterfinal date between Mapua and LPU.
Jose Rizal U is also assured of a top two finish in Group A, although its placement is still up in the air.
Perpetual and San Sebastian are also locked in the other play-in.
So what's at stake next week?
EAC vs. Arellano (Monday, 5 p.m. @ Philsports Arena)
Simply put, the winner gets no. 2 spot in Group B.
The Chiefs want to have a fitting end to their campaign after starting off 4-0, and snagging that prize puts them closer to their first Final Four appearance since 2016.
Meanwhile, the Generals are chasing history as a win would get them a win away from reaching their breakthrough semifinal spot a season after being bounced off in the play-in.
Arellano edged EAC, 91-87, last Sept. 22 behind T-Mc Ongotan's 26-point explosion and Basti Valencia's late game heroics.
San Beda vs. CSB (Tuesday, 5 p.m. @ Playtime Filoil Centre)
How fitting is it that the first matchup of the season will also cap off the elimination phase?
And this time, a twice-to-beat advantage hangs in the balance.
The defending champions can finish at the top of the ultra-competitive Group A with a victory as it would level San Beda with idle JRU at 10-3. The Red Lions swept the Heavy Bombers in their two elimination meetings and that outcome would relegate the Kalentong side to no. 2.
For the Blazers, a win would force a tie between the two sides at 9-4, but will hand the Taft side the no. 2 spot thanks to their 77-68 opening day triumph back in Sept. 13. JRU will also benefit as it would snag the no. 1 spot in the bracket with a Benilde victory.
The loser of this matchup will go down to no. 3 and face a twice-to-win disadvantage in the crossover quarterfinals against whoever wins the EAC - Arellano clash.
Curiously, this final stretch has provided an early preview of those play-in duels: with the Altas getting the better of the winless Golden Stags, 82-75, on Friday; while the Cardinals and the Pirates face off on Monday.
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