EYES on the prize.
Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer are looking to secure the top two seeds as they face separate opponents in the final elimination round playdate of the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup.
The Gin Kings (8-2) can clinch the top ranking as they seek their fourth straight victory when they take on Mahindra Floodbuster (3-7) at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.
The opener is equally crucial as the Beermen (8-2) also look to secure their place in the top two when they face the GlobalPort Batang Pier (4-6) at 4:15 p.m. in a game that can significantly affect the final standings of multiple teams.
Holding the edge in every tie-breaker among the teams up top, Ginebra will clinch the top seed by winning against Mahindra, who will be playing for survival.
Currently, the Star Hotshots are at the top, finishing with a 9-2 card, but can slip as far as the No. 3 seed should Ginebra and San Miguel prevail.
If one of those teams win and the other one loses, the victor and the Hotshots will get the top two seeds, and the twice-to-beat quarterfinals incentive with them, while the loser will fall to No. 3.
For GlobalPort and Mahindra, it’s about survival as they attempt to fight for a spot in the top eight.
The Batang Pier aims to upset the Beermen to gain an outright ticket in the quarters.
For the Floodbuster, it needs to pull off a win against the red hot Gin Kings to remain in contention for a possible playoff for a spot in the postseason.
GlobalPort, Mahindra, the Alaska Aces (4-7) and the Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters (4-7) are the four teams battling for the last two tickets in the quarters.
Should there be any ties, the quotient system and then a possible playoff game will come into play to complete the quarterfinals cast.