Four-way tie for second?

There’s a possibility that four teams will close the PBA Commissioner’s Cup prelims with identical 8-3 records in a tie for second place behind pacesetting Magnolia. This will happen if Ginebra beat NLEX yesterday (outcome still undetermined at presstime) and Phoenix loses to TNT tonight. The merry mix-up will be unknotted via the quotient system as under PBA rules, only a tie for eighth is broken by a playoff.

Here’s how the 12 teams stand, assuming Ginebra won yesterday: Magnolia 9-2, Phoenix 8-2, San Miguel Beer 8-3, Meralco 8-3, Ginebra 8-3, NorthPort 6-5, Rain or Shine 5-5, TNT 4-6, NLEX 4-7, Terrafirma 2-9, Converge 1-9 and Blackwater 1-10. The two remaining games in the schedule are Converge against Rain or Shine and TNT against Phoenix at the PhilSports Arena today.

In a four-way tie for second, San Miguel will clinch the No. 2 spot with +44, Ginebra will take No. 3 with -4, Phoenix will drop to No. 4 with -6 and Meralco will slide to No. 5 with -34.  Only the top four placers will carry a twice-to-beat advantage to the quarterfinals. If Rain or Shine and TNT prevail later, the Elasto Painters will tie NorthPort for sixth place at 6-5. The Batang Pier will end up No. 6 under the winner-over-the-other rule. Last Nov. 12, NorthPort defeated Rain or Shine, 113-103. The Painters will extend their win streak to six games with a win over Converge and stake its claim as the hottest squad in the league. In this scenario, Ginebra will face Rain or Shine in the quarters while San Miguel will take on NorthPort. Magnolia will engage No. 8 TNT. NLEX will join Terrafirma, Converge and Blackwater by the wayside.

A three-way tie for second will happen if NLEX and TNT win their last outings. That will leave Phoenix, San Miguel Beer and Meralco deadlocked at 8-3 each. The Beermen will clinch No. 2 with +31. Phoenix falls to No. 3 with -11 and Meralco to No. 4 with -20. Ginebra takes No. 5 with a 7-4 mark and will meet Meralco in the quarters. There will be a playoff between NLEX and TNT to break their 6-5 logjam.

Phoenix is the only “independent” to make it to the top four. The Super LPG Fuel Masters will enter the playoffs with a 9-2 mark if they repulse TNT. Phoenix slips to No. 3 if it loses to TNT in a four-way or three-way tie for second. 

Magnolia will battle either TNT or NLEX in the quarters with the Chicken Timplados Hotshots favored to advance with a twice-to-beat advantage. Coach Chito Victolero’s squad bowed only to Rain or Shine and Meralco in the prelims with an average losing margin of four points.  Magnolia, San Miguel, Phoenix and Ginebra or Meralco should find their way to the semis.