THE PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup is on break to give way to Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers. And this is also a perfect time to look back at the elimination round where a tight race for the playoffs is shaping up.
At the moment, NLEX and Rain or Shine are currently on top of the team standings with a 6-2 win-loss record, with reigning champion San Miguel, TNT, Magnolia, and Converge in a share of third place with 5-2 win-loss slates.
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Even teams in the bottom half of the standings are bunched up, with Barangay Ginebra and Meralco in a tie at 3-4, followed by Titan Ultra and Phoenix with 2-6 slates, and Terrafirma and Blackwater sharing 1-6 records.
If the playoffs started today, we rank the top eight teams - breaking the deadlocks by using the tiebreaker which is the PBA quotient - just to get a better understanding of who will meet who in the match-ups.
Once again, for this conference, the top four teams will be enjoying twice-to-beat advantages in the quarterfinals.
1. NLEX (6-2)
The Road Warriors would be clinching the No. 1 seed if the playoffs started today by virtue of their 105-91 victory over the Elasto Painters last November 8.
2. RAIN OR SHINE (6-2)
By losing their clash in the elimination round, the Elasto Painters fall to No. 2, but will still own a twice-to-beat advantage if the playoffs started today.
3. TNT (5-2)
The Tropang 5G would tab the No. 3 seed if the playoffs started today with their 110-103 victory over Converge last October 18 in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. They also have a 1.0680 quotient at the moment so they get the No. 3 seed if the playoffs started today. Keep in mind, however, that the Tropang 5G haven’t faced San Miguel and Magnolia in the eliminations. TNT will be up against SMB on December 5 and Magnolia on December 21.
4. SAN MIGUEL (5-2)
The Beermen currently have a 1.0440 quotient following victories over Magnolia, 94-92, last November 7, and Converge, 96-90, last November 2. With that, San Miguel will secure the fourth seed and the final twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals if the playoffs started today. But San Miguel will still be facing TNT on December 5.
5. MAGNOLIA (5-2)
Magnolia lost to San Miguel, 94-92, last November 7. And with a 0.9787 quotient, the Hotshots secure the No. 5 seed if the playoffs start today. In reality, the seeding can still go up or down as Magnolia hasn’t faced Converge and TNT in the eliminations. The Hotshots will be up against the FiberXers on December 5 and the Tropang 5G on December 21.
6. CONVERGE (5-2)
Converge is on pace for a solid showing in the conference. But if the playoffs started today, the FiberXers will actually land at No. 6 with its 0.9369 quotient after its 96-90 loss to San Miguel and 110-103 defeat to TNT. Once again, the quotient has yet to consider their matches against Magnolia as they will face each other on December 5.
7. MERALCO (3-4)
If the playoffs start today, Meralco would be the No. 7 seed with its 89-75 win over Barangay Ginebra last October 17.
8. BARANGAY GINEBRA (3-4)
With the loss to Meralco, Barangay Ginebra would be the No. 8 seed if the playoffs started today.
So if the playoffs start today, here are the quarterfinal match-ups:
NLEX (1) vs. BARANGAY GINEBRA (8)
SAN MIGUEL (4) vs. MAGNOLIA (5)
RAIN OR SHINE (2) vs. MERALCO (7)
TNT (3) vs. CONVERGE (6)
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