IF the stars align, a Manila Clasico would be a surprise gift that the PBA Commissioner's Cup will have in their hands in the coming playoffs.
This will happen if Magnolia, seeded 8th, and Barangay Ginebra, seeded 4th, will win their quarterfinals best-of-three series. The Hotshsots go up against top-seeded NorthPort while the Gin Kings take on fifth seed Meralco.
READ: Magnolia blows away NLEX to catch last bus to PBA playoffs
Playoff format calls for the winners of the 1 vs. 8, and 4 vs. 5 to go head-to-head at the end of the quarterfinal round, putting Magnolia and Ginebra on a collision course in a best-of-seven semifinals if they advance.
The first meeting of the season between the two teams came last Christmas when Barangay Ginebra, trailing by as many as 22 points, beat Magnolia, courtesy of a buzzer-beating three by Scottie Thompson, 95-92.
NorthPort and Meralco, of course, may have something to say about that.
The Batang Pier have been on a roll this conference, taking the No. 1 spot in the elimination round with a 9-3 win-loss record.
It will be noted that in nine of NorthPort's wins, three came from San Miguel Corporation teams.
The Bolts are at No. 5 and were beaten in the elimination round by the Gin Kings, 91-87, last Wednesday, but the game mostly saw second and third-stringers seeing action with the teams already resting players in preparation for the playoff push.
Meralco hopes to bounce back after being swept in the 49th Season Governors’ Cup quarterfinals last conference.
Meralco will look to start its redemption tour as it clashes with Barangay Ginebra in Game One of the best-of-three quarterfinals on Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Meantime, NorthPort will look to oust Magnolia on Thursday, 5 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
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