PBA playoffs scenarios with one playdate left
With one playdate left in the 2016 Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup eliminations, there are still a lot of uncertainty in terms of the quarterfinal pairings.
Blackwater goes up against Mahindra in the curtain-raiser, while TNT and Ginebra go to war at Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, with heavy playoff implications at stake.
Despite the unknown, last year’s All-Filipino Cup finalists Alaska and San Miguel are already a lock at the no. 1 and 2 spots after advancing outright to the semifinals with identical 9-2 cards.
Rain or Shine also is secured at no. 3 and will enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage against no 10. which will be the winner of Sunday’s duel between the Elite and the Enforcers, a match up which would send one of the two expansion teams to its first franchise quarterfinals appearance.
Also definite will be the 5 vs. 8 pairing as no. 5 GlobalPort, armed with a twice-to-beat edge faces off against the dangerous Barako Bull.
But the mystery begins at the no. 4 spot, with the winner of the TNT-Ginebra matchup on Sunday claiming the berth and setting up a date against no. 9 Star.
The loser of that game Kings-Texters match-up, meanwhile, will still have a twice-to-beat edge, but will face for NLEX in the 6 vs. 7 pairing.
The quarterfinals begin on Christmas Day at Mall of Asia Arena, with the winners of the first phase advancing to the knockout stages.
Top seed Alaska and San Miguel will be waiting on January 4 next year at Mall of Asia Arena for the start of the best-of-7 semifinals.
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