Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

Despite getting sixth win, Meralco still not assured of PBA bubble QF slot


SMART CLARK GIGA CITY — Meralco head coach Norman Black feels relieved to have scored their sixth win in the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup after averting a collapse versus Terrafirma Dyip Sunday afternoon.

However, the decorated mentor refuses to get too caught up.

Although the magic number for teams to make it to the quarterfinals is six, the Bolts aren’t assured yet of a trip to the said round set to begin later this week, according to the league’s stats chief Fidel Mangonon III.

At present, Meralco sit in fourth with a 6-4 card. However, there is still the possibility of a logjam at the bottom half of the standings among Meralco, Alaska, San Miguel, Rain or Shine, Magnolia, and NLEX.

The Aces are sporting a similar 6-4 card, while the reigning five-time champs Beermen, the Elasto Painters, and the Hotshots all carry 5-4 records. The Road Warriors, lastly, have a 4-5 record.

The playoff race has tightened with the elimination round in its last three days, and the quarterfinal picture has yet to form. Black, though, is confident in their chances.

“We definitely have our fate in our own hands considering that we beat Magnolia, we beat Alaska, we beat Rain or Shine, we beat NLEX. And those are the teams that we’re fighting with right now,” he said.

If ever the tiebreakers come into play for the quarterfinal positioning, Meralco has the edge over those teams. It beat Alaska, 93-81, last Oct. 14 for its first win, then scored a 109-104 OT win over Magnolia.

#ReadMore  Roy, Dumaguete stun Tabogon in OT, advance to VisMin QF

The Bolts then owned NLEX through a 101-92 decision, before taking care of business by taking down Rain or Shine just last Thursday after scoring an 85-78 win that saw them avert a late-game collapse.

Still, the Grand Slam-winning mentor doesn’t want to be too confident even if the odds appear to be in their favor. They still have one more game left on Wednesday versus NorthPort, which, for the Bolts, is a must-win.

“So our last game becomes very very important. We play NorthPort on Wednesday. We win that game, that gives us a better chance of making it,” said Black, who’s looking for his first All-Filipino playoff stint in five years.

“Of course, there’s always a possibility of a three-way tie, so you’ll never know what happens with the quotient. But at the same time, we have our fate in our hands right now.”

Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.


You May Also Like

Basketball

San Miguel and Meralco will take center stage when the Philippine Basketball Association celebrates its 50th founding anniversary on April 9. Commissioner Willie Marcial...

Basketball

Meralco’s hopes of advancing to the East Asia Super League (EASL) Final Four were shattered on Wednesday evening, as the Bolts suffered a heartbreaking...

Basketball

Chris Newsome won’t just leave his brothers behind as Meralco shoots for the remaining ticket to the 2024-25 East Asia Super League (EASL) Final...

Basketball

ANTIPOLO – Ginebra proved steadier down the stretch and outlasted Meralco, 94-87, to complete the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup semifinal picture much to...

Basketball

Ginebra leaned on its usual suspects in the endgame to beat Meralco once again, 100-92, and move a step closer to the PBA Season...

Basketball

Magnolia took no chances and dominated an all-Filipino Meralco, 129-92, to remain in the hunt for a ticket to the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s...

Basketball

Ginebra withstood Meralco’s late rally and came away with the 91-87 decision in a battle between teams gearing up for the PBA Season 49...

Basketball

Playing without Akil Mitchell, Meralco suffered a critical blow to its 2024-25 East Asia Super League (EASL) Final Four aspirations after absorbing an 89-71...

Advertisement