The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
As the elimination round of the 2014 PBA Philippine Cup draws to a close, there are a bunch of possibilities for all of the teams still in contention. Four teams are still gunning for the top two spots which will earn them a ticket straight to the semifinals.
Three squads are still angling for the sixth spot and a twice-to-beat advantage at the start of the playoffs.
To make this as simple as possible, here are the best and worst-case scenarios for the top eight PBA teams so you’ll know which other teams you should cheer for to help your team out.
- San Miguel Beermen
The Beermen have their fate completely in their hands. All they have to do is beat either the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters on Friday or avoid the mother of all upsets against the Blackwater Elite on December 9. That’s it. Win a game against the only team without a victory in the PBA Philippine Cup and the Beermen will march on to the semis without a problem.
Luckily for the Beermen, the Painters and the Aces still have a match against each other so one of those teams would end up with three losses making a 1-1 record in their last two games good enough.
Best case: 1st place at 10-1
Worst case: Quadruple tie for 1st place with Alaska, Rain or Shine, and Talk ‘N Text.
- Alaska Aces
Like the Beermen, the Aces also have their fate firmly in their hands. All they have to do to march into the semis is beat the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on Friday in their last game.
Best case: 1st place at 9-2 (If SMB loses its remaining two games)
Worst case: 3rd place at 8-3 (If Rain or Shine wins its remaining two games)
- Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
The Elasto Painters need to win both games against Alaska and Ginebra to be sure of a semis spot. A 9-2 record is good enough for a top two spot whatever the results of the rest of the games would be.
Best case: 1st place at 9-2 (if SMB loses both its games)
Worst case: Triple tie at the 3rd to 5th spots at 7-4 with Talk ‘N Text and Ginebra
(Ginebra will be 3rd, TNT 4th, and ROS 5th)
- Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters
The Tropang Texters still have an outside chance of landing in the top two after their huge overtime win against Purefoods but they’ll need a lot of things to fall into place.
To start, the Texters need the Elasto Painters to beat the Alaska Aces. After this, TNT would then need to beat San Miguel Beer. It doesn’t end there as they also need the Ginebra Kings to beat the E-Painters to force a triple tie for second place at 8-3.
Best case: Triple tie with Alaska and Rain or Shine for 2nd place at 8-3
(Talk ‘N Text will get the 2nd spot unless Rain or Shine beats Alaska by at least 45 points)
Worst case: Triple tie at the 3rd to 5th spots at 7-4 with Rain or Shine and Ginebra
(Ginebra will be 3rd, TNT 4th, and ROS 5th)
Worst Case: Triple tie at the 5th to 7th spots at 6-5 with the winner of Meralco-GlobalPort and Purefoods.
(Ginebra will be 5th, winner of Meralco-GlobalPort will be 6th, and Purefoods will be 7th)
- GlobalPort Batang Pier
A win for GlobalPort in their last game against Meralco would give them a twice-to-beat edge in the playoffs. Because of Ginebra’s huge win over Purefoods and GlobalPort’s dominant win over Ginebra, the Hotshots would be the odd team out.
Best Case: Tied at 5th and 6th with Ginebra (If Ginebra loses to Rain or Shine and Purefoods loses to Barako Bull)
(GlobalPort will take the 5th spot in the win over the other rule)
Worst Case: Triple tie at the 7th to 9th spots with Purefoods and Barako Bull at 5-6
- Meralco Bolts
The Bolts are in the exact same boat as their last assignment in the elimination round. Win and get a twice-to-beat advantage. Lose and face a team holding that advantage in the playoffs.
Best Case: Tied at 5th and 6th with Ginebra (If Ginebra loses to Rain or Shine and Purefoods loses to Barako Bull)
(Meralco will take the 5th spot in the win over the other rule)
Worst Case: Triple tie at the 7th to 9th spots at 5-6 with Purefoods and Barako Bull at 5-6
- Purefoods Star Hotshots
The reigning PBA Grand Slam Champions need a huge assist from their sister team Ginebra in order to have a better shot at defending their title.
Purefoods needs Ginebra to beat Rain or Shine and they’ll need to beat Barako Bull in their last game to force a tie with the winner of Meralco and GlobalPort at 6-5.
Unless Ginebra beats Rain or Shine, Purefoods will need to win three straight knockout games to continue their title run.
Best Case: Tied for the 6th and 7th spots at 6-5 with the winner of Meralco-GlobalPort (Purefoods takes the 6th spot because of the win over the other rule)
Worst case: Worst Case: Triple tie at the 7th to 9th spots at 5-6 with the loser of Meralco-GlobalPort and Barako Bull. (Yahoo Philippines)