IN what has been the biggest surprise in the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup, Barangay Ginebra, San Miguel, and Magnolia have found themselves on the edge in the battle for quarterfinal slots.
Traditional contenders in past conferences, the three popular teams in the San Miguel bloc are well behind in the battle for the two twice-to-beat spots and, in fact, are still not guaranteed entry into the eight-team quarterfinals.
Ginebra is in No. 7 with a 6-4 win-loss record. San Miguel isn’t any better, as the Beermen occupy eighth spot with a 4-5 win-loss record, ironically, in a conference where they are the reigning champions.
Magnolia, SMB’s opponent during last season’s finals, is currently on the outside looking in, still mired in ninth spot and in danger of missing the playoffs.
Let's take a look at the scenarios:
Remaining games
Barangay Ginebra: Rain or Shine (January 22), Meralco (January 29)
San Miguel: NorthPort (January 21), Converge (January 24), TNT (January 26)
Magnolia: Eastern (January 26), Meralco (January 31)
Here are some of the possibilities that could happen at the end of the eliminations.
Possible scenarios
Ginebra still within striking distance for twice-to-beat
Despite being at seventh place, Barangay Ginebra can still move up to as high as the top two spots due to the tight race in the middle of the standings where their opponents Rain or Shine and Meralco are also currently in.
As of posting time, Meralco is in a share of third place with Eastern and Meralco with a 7-3 slate, with Rain or Shine at sixth with a 6-3 win-loss card.
Beating the Elasto Painters and the Bolts would certainly help them claim the twice-to-beat.
San Miguel may still have a chance at No. 2
Despite their struggles, the Beermen may still be in position for the one of the two twice-to-beat incentives in the quarterfinals, although it is going to be a complicated route.
They need to sweep the remaining three games to be, at least, in the frame for those coveted two spots in the quarterfinals. But those matches will be against NorthPort, Converge, and TNT - all in the upper tier in the standings.
SMB can only win a maximum of seven games. Therefore, ffor the Beermen to clinch a twice-to-beat spot, TNT must not reach eight victories.
Possible playoff for No. 8 between San Miguel and Magnolia
With the Beermen at 4-5, and the Hotshots at 4-6, the two teams could be in line for an unlikely playoff game for the No. 8 spot if they continue to struggle in the final stretch of the elimination.
A playoff for the last quarterfinal spot for an SMC team is rare, with the 2021 Philippine Cup winner-take-all duel between Ginebra and Phoenix as the last one.
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