Seven teams have already locked in spots in the quarterfinals. That was the easy part.
The real battle begins in the next few days as they try to secure a spot in the Top Six — or ideally the Top Two — to avoid the dreaded twice-to-win disadvantage.
Rain or Shine and Barangay Ginebra are in that group. Both are safely through to the quarterfinals, but with their current standings, they’re not entirely out of danger. A slip could see them fall to No. 7 or No. 8.
The two teams square off in a crucial PBA Commissioner’s Cup clash on Wednesday at Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo, with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m. Both squads are eyeing their seventh win to strengthen their playoff positions.
“We’ve got six wins already, but we’re aiming for seven to secure our place and avoid being stuck with No. 7 or No. 8,” said Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao.
The Elasto Painters are riding the high of snapping a two-game slide, followed by a six-day break. Meanwhile, Ginebra comes off a tough 86-91 loss to TNT.
“Beating NorthPort was a big morale boost,” Guiao shared. “We needed that to give us confidence heading into the Ginebra game.”
Guiao also stressed the importance of staying consistent. “We didn’t compete with enough heart in our losses to Phoenix and Converge. But we know if we play with energy and determination, we can hang with anyone,” he added.
Rain or Shine returned to form with a dominant 127-107 win over NorthPort, keeping them firmly in the hunt for a Top Two finish. With three games left — including matchups against Ginebra, NLEX, and TNT — they’re looking to finish strong.
For Ginebra, the task ahead is clear: bounce back with tough games against Rain or Shine and Meralco to close out the regular season.