NLEX and Blackwater are fighting for the final quarterfinal spot in Group B of the PBA 49th Season Governors’ Cup. The Road Warriors and the Bossing are in a tie for fourth place with 3-5 win-loss records.
The battle for the last seat in the next round intensifies with NLEX playing one of its final two games of the eliminations on Friday against Phoenix. Blackwater will then go up against San Miguel on Saturday to also begin the final stretch of the group stage.
Here’s how the playoff race for that final spot could pan out. It is of note that the scenarios are unofficial and only presented by SPIN.ph in an effort to give readers a clearer picture on the chase for the quarterfinals.
NLEX has edge in case of a tie
This conference, there won’t be any playoff for the last quarterfinal berth, and ties will be broken through the PBA quotient system.
If NLEX and Blackwater remain in a deadlock at the end of the eliminations, the Road Warriors will win the tiebreaker on the strength of their +6 point differential or 1.0305 quotient.
Both teams split their eliminations assignment with NLEX winning the first round, 104-87, and Blackwater taking the second round, 110-99.
So how can NLEX make it the quarterfinals
One of the ways on how NLEX can clinch a quarterfinal berth is with a win in one of its final two outings, and with Blackwater losing one of its last two games.
NLEX can also qualify by winning the last two games, even if Blackwater also takes its final two assignments.
NLEX can even lose all its remaining matches, and still make it to the quarterfinals as long as Blackwater also lose its pair of games.
How Blackwater can book a quarterfinal seat
The Bossing must have more wins in the final stretch against the Road Warriors in order to advance due to the fact that they have the inferior quotient. For example, Blackwater can win one, but NLEX must lose its final two games.
If Blackwater sweeps, NLEX must win just one game. Again, if there is a tie, NLEX advances.
Who has the better schedule?
NLEX has a relatively lighter schedule as it faces Phoenix (1-8) on Friday and Barangay Ginebra (6-3) on Sunday.
Unfortunately for Blackwater, it has a difficult schedule as it goes up against the top two teams in Group B in San Miguel (6-3) on Saturday and Rain or Shine (7-2) on Monday.
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.
