NLEX needed an extra period to turn back Barangay Ginebra, 103-99, and book the last quarterfinals berth in the PBA Governors’ Cup on Sunday night.
The hard-earned victory by the Road Warriors slammed the door on Blackwater’s playoffs bid even if the Bossing win their last game in the group stage against Rain or Shine.
This is all because NLEX boasts of a better quotient against Blackwater in the event of a tie at 5-5 in Group B.
Meanwhile, TNT ended its group stage assignments on a winning note by thrashing import-less NorthPort, 99-79.
The Tropang Giga, who opted to rest a hurting Rondae Hollis-Jefferson against the Batang Pier, ended up as the top-seeded team in Group A with a league best 8-2 record.
Below are the takeaways in the penultimate day of the group stage at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
LIKE GOOD OLD TIMES FOR JB AND AD
The two former Best Imports meet again, but in an early showdown as Ginebra and Meralco are set for a best-of-five quarterfinals showdown.
READ: Brownlee-Durham IV now official as Ginebra faces Meralco in QFs
Justin Brownlee, of course, has had Allen Durham’s number, having beaten ‘The Hulk’ and the Bolts in three previous finals encounters. Will Durham finally get his payback against 'Justin Noypi?' Or will Brownlee extend his dominance against his old rival?
CLOSE BUT NOT QUITE FOR BLACKWATER
The Bossing were hoping for a Ginebra win over NLEX for them to get to decide their own fate by beating Rain or Shine. In this scenario, the franchise would have made the quarterfinals for the first time in two years.
Unfortunately, the basketball gods were not on their side, as the Road Warriors managed to sneak into the next round with an overtime win over the Gin Kings. Now, all Blackwater could hope for is to finish its campaign on a winning note and end up at the .500 mark.
RHJ PRIMING UP FOR PLAYOFFS
With TNT already assured of the No. 1 seed in Group A and playing in a no-bearing game against NorthPort, the Tropang Giga opted to rest top import Hollis-Jefferson, who has been favoring his ankle the past few games.
With a few days’ rest, expect RHJ to be fresh and healthy come the playoffs, as the defending champions face the NLEX in the best-of-five quarterfinals.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
