NLEX and Barangay Ginebra picked up wins over the weekend that boosted their bid for twice-to-beat advantage and a higher seeding in the PBA 50th Season Commissioner's Cup.
The Road Warriors beat Converge, 100-81, last Saturday, and now own a 9-2 win-loss record, while the Gin Kings defeated Rain or Shine, 114-90, last Sunday, to improve their slate to 8-3.
PBA SCENARIOS: This must happen so Ginebra can claim No. 1 seed
The final week of the elimination round is set to start on Tuesday. But to give you an idea of the possible match-ups in the quarterfinals, let's see which teams NLEX, Barangay Ginebra, and the others will face in the playoffs if it begins after Sunday's games.
NLEX (1) VS. SAN MIGUEL (8)
NLEX currently has the top spot, and if the playoffs begin today, it is going to be San Miguel as its opponent. The Beermen are currently in a tie with Magnolia at seventh with a 5-5 win-loss mark SMB will go down to No. 8 owing to a loss to the Hotshots in their elimination-round match.
This sets up a rematch of the Philippine Cup quarterfinals although it was NLEX which was at No. 8 then and lost that game to No. 1 seed SMB on Christmas Day 2025.
MERALCO (4) VS. PHOENIX SUPER LPG (5)
If the playoffs start today, Meralco will be facing Phoenix Super LPG with the Bolts armed with a twice-to-beat advantage due to a 7-3 win-loss record. The Fuelmasters are tied with TNT at fifth place with a 6-5 win-loss mark, but they will snag the No. 5 due to their recent overtime victory over the Tropang 5G.
Meralco and Phoenix have faced each other before in the playoffs, the most recent one being two seasons ago in the 2023-24 Commissioner's Cup. Meralco was also in a 4 vs. 5 showdown against Phoenix but the Bolts lost despite twice-to-beat advantage to the Fuelmasters, who were powered by import Johnathan Williams. Phoenix has since brought Williams back in its bid to go deep into the tournament.
RAIN OR SHINE (3) VS. TNT (6)
If the playoffs start today, Rain or Shine will clinch the No. 3. The Elasto Painters have an 8-3 record like Ginebra, but they will drop to third spot due to the winner-over-the-other. ROS will face TNT in yet another playoff showdown if the eliminations ended today.
Rain or Shine and TNT have battled in the semifinals in all three conferences during Season 49. This season will be different as they take on Bol Bol although the Elasto Painters were able to beat the Tropang 5G in Bol's first PBA game last March 20.
BARANGAY GINEBRA (2) VS. MAGNOLIA (7)
Ginebra will be the No. 2 ranked team in the quarterfinals if the playoffs start today due to an 8-3 win-loss record and a win-over-the-other over Rain or Shine. It will arrange a Manila Clasico against Magnolia in the quarterfinals, with the Hotshots taking the No. 7 spot.
Tied with San Miguel with a 5-5 win-loss record, Magnolia will gain the seventh seed by virtue of its win over the Beermen in the eliminations. It would be the first time that Magnolia coach LA Tenorio faces Ginebra in a playoff game if this series becomes a reality at the end of the eliminations.
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