THREE teams battling for a spot in the quarterfinals face their most important game of the tournament in the homestretch of the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup.
A wild finish is expected to ensue with four teams contending for just three berths left in the quarterfinals. Today’s playdate will have a huge implication on what the team standings will look like with the playoffs just around the corner.
A crucial tiff between Alaska and NLEX, currently tied at 5-5 for sixth and seventh places, takes place at 4:15 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Following that is an equally important game for Rain or Shine (4-6), which is on the outside looking in at ninth place. Looking to keep its chance of making the next round alive, the Elasto Painters play already eliminated Star Hotshots (2-8) at 7 p.m.
Only the top eight teams will qualify for the quarterfinals and five tickets have already been punched by TNT KaTropa, Barangay Ginebra, San Miguel Beer, Meralco and Mahindra.
The winner between Alaska and NLEX will secure a spot in the next round. The loser will have to wait for the result of Rain or Shine’s game to know its fate.
The Elasto Painters need to win against Star to keep their hopes of entering the top eight alive. A less will result in their elimination from the playoffs.
Not only will the victor between the Aces and the Road Warriors secure a berth in the quarters, it will also have a chance to fight for a top four finish and a twice-to-beat incentive.
Meralco, which finished at 6-5 and will have the highest quotient regardless of any tie for fourth place. If the Road Warriors win they will play the Bolts in a playoff to dispute the No. 4 seed and the last twice-to-beat incentive in the next round. If the Aces win the Bolts play the Enforcer for the No. 4 seed.
If the Painters win, they will create a three-way tie for seventh and eighth places between them and the loser of the Alaska-NLEX tiff and the Fuel Masters who also have a 5-6 record.
In that case, the team with the highest quotient will clinch the No. 7 ranking while the other two squads will figure in a playoff to see who gets the eighth and last berth in the quarters.
Alaska and NLEX will head to their vital tiff as two of the hottest teams in the league.
The Aces are peaking and are winners of three straight while the Road Warriors listed wins in their last two assignments.