Games today
Araneta Coliseum
4:15 p.m.- Talk ‘N Text vs. GlobalPort
7:00 p.m.- Star vs. Blackwater
Playoff positioning heats as four teams seek key victories in today’s double-header of the 41st PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters tangle with the GlobalPort Batang Pier in the first game, while clashing in the main match are the Star Hotshots and the Blackwater Elite.
With just a few games left in the 11-game elimination round, picking up a win will be crucial for the 11 teams which are still in the hunt for a playoff spot.
The first team to get the boot was Meralco, ended its elimination round assignment with 10 losses against a single win.
The San Miguel Beermen ended the eliminations with nine wins and two losses, assuring them of at least a playoff for one of the two outright semifinal seats.
Trailing the Beermen are the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and the Alaska Aces, who both sport 8-2 (win-loss) records.
Should Alaska, Rain or Shine and San Miguel end up with similar records after the eliminations, the Elasto Painters will get the first outright semis seat while a playoff will be played between the Beermen and the Aces for the second automatic Final Four berth.
GlobalPort is at fourth place with a 7-3 record, followed by Barangay Ginebra and Talk ‘N Text, which parade 6-4 and 5-4 ledgers, respectively.
Barako Bull is at seventh spot with five wins and five losses. NLEX currently occupies the eighth place with 4-6 record followed by Star, Blackwater and Mahindra with 3-7, 2-7 and 2-8 cards, respectively.
Tournament format states that the top two teams after the eliminations will advance to the semis outright, while the bottom two will be eliminated.
The next eight teams will play in a double-phase quarterfinal round with the number three to six seeds enjouing twice-to-beat edges over their lower-ranked foes.
Winners in the first phase of the quarterfinals will play in the second phase, which will be a knockout affair.
Quarterfinal survivors will advance to the semifinal rounds, which will feature two best-of-seven series.
Semifinal victors will move to the best-of-seven championship round.
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