SCENARIOS: MAGNOLIA, NLEX STAND IN WAY OF SMB BID FOR TWICE-TO-BEAT, SWEEP

SAN Miguel has clinched a place in the quarterfinals following its seventh win in a row - a 120-100 rout of NorthPort last Sunday in the PBA Philippine Cup.

The next step now for the Beermen is to gain the twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals, the first test to their bid to sweep all titles in the two-conference 48th Season of the league.

How can the Beermen claim that quarterfinal incentive without any complications? Here’s how.

TOP FOUR IN THE TEAM STANDINGS

Here are the top four teams that have the strongest chance of capturing the two twice-to-beat incentives.

San Miguel 7-0

Magnolia 5-2

Barangay Ginebra 6-3

NLEX 5-3

HOW SMB CAN GET THE TWICE-TO-BEAT OUTRIGHT?

The Beermen need to win the next two games this weekend in order to capture the twice-to-beat advantage outright.

Both matches, however, will be tough assignments.

First, San Miguel will face Magnolia Chicken Timplados on Friday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum in a rematch of the last Commissioner’s Cup Finals.

The Beermen will then take a one-day break before facing NLEX on Sunday at the Philsports Arena.

A sweep of the two games is necessary since Magnolia and NLEX are also in the running for a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.

The Hotshots are in second place with a 5-2 win-loss record, two games behind the Beermen, while the Road Warriors are at fourth with a 5-3 slate - just half-a-game behind Barangay Ginebra (6-3).

PHOTO: Jerome Ascano

The Hotshots definitely want to gain a measure of revenge after losing to the Beermen in Game Six of the Commissioner’s Cup Finals last Valentine’s Day.

The Road Warriors are eager to get back in the twice-to-beat race after dropping their last two games against TNT and Phoenix.

In the event of one or two losses this weekend, San Miguel’s fortunes remain in its hands. The magic number for San Miguel is nine wins which it can also achieve in their other remaining games against Blackwater on May 1 at the Philsports Arena and Meralco on May 4 at the Batangas City Coliseum.

San Miguel’s next two opponents are in the bottom half of the team standings, but are also determined to stay in the hunt for quarterfinal places.

While the twice-to-beat is within reach, San Miguel also has a shot at sweeping the elimination round, an accomplishment last achieved by rival TNT Tropang Giga during the 2014 Commissioner’s Cup.

2024-04-25T08:05:52Z dg43tfdfdgfd