WITH the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup adopting the two-group format anew, several marquee matches won’t be seen - at least in the elimination phase.
Since they belong to different brackets, there won’t be an early clash between Commissioner’s Cup finalists Barangay Ginebra and TNT once the season-ending conference finally kicks off on Friday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The Tropang 5G, defending Govs’ Cup champions, are in Group A, while the Gin Kings, who dethroned TNT in the midseason tournament, are in Group B.
READ: Two-group format back on for PBA Season 50 Governors' Cup
Under the two-group format, teams will only play those within their own group during the double-round robin elims.
With the Tropang 5G in Group A are Philippine Cup champion San Miguel, Converge, NLEX, Titan Ultra, Terrafirma, and guest team Macau.
Joining Ginebra in Group B, meantime, are Rain or Shine, Meralco, Blackwater, Phoenix, and Magnolia.
Going by the format, teams in Group A will play a total of 12 games, as the Giant Pandas are included in their bracket, while Group B squads are going to see action in 10 matches.
Must-see match-ups in backburner
That means there won’t be a Ginebra-San Miguel clash in the elims, a Rain or Shine-SMB showdown following their emotional quarterfinals duel last conference, a Converge-Ginebra outing, or a Converge vs. RoS match.
But the Gin Kings and Elasto Painters will meet twice in the elims in the aftermath of their highly-emotional Comm's Cup semifinals. And so will there be a TNT-San Miguel head-to-head, as well as a double-dipping of the Manila Clasico between Ginebra and Magnolia.
Top four teams from each group at the end of the elims will advance to the crossover best-of-three quarterfinals.
Then the remaining four clash in the best-of-five semis, before the last two survivors duke it out in the best-of-seven finals.
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