Beermen still in the running for twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals

With NLEX and Meralco already assured of the top two spots in the quarterfinal round of the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup with identical 8-2 records, the third and fourth seeds are still up for grabs with three teams in the running to secure the coveted placings.

Unlike the previous conferences wherein only the top 2 finishers in the elimination round carry a twice-to-beat advantage into the next, the ongoing conference awards the top 4 with the said incentive.

Currently running third with a 7-2 card, TNT may have lost its last 2 games but would only need to win one of its remaining two to obtain a place in the top four. The road, however, won’t be a smooth one with defending champion Magnolia and Grand Slam-chasing San Miguel waiting in the wings.

The KaTropa takes on the Hotshots on Saturday, November 16 at the USEP Gym in Davao City and then round up their elimination round sked against the Beermen on Wednesday, November 20 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

TNT may fall out of the top four if it drops both games.

Brgy. Ginebra, for its part, needs to win only once to secure the twice-to-beat incentive in the next round. Losing both, however, could drop the crowd darlings out of the top four.

The Gin Kings, currently in 4th place with a 6-3 card, clash with Columbian Dyip on Friday, November 15 and then with the NorthPort Batang Pier on Sunday, November 17. Both games will be held at the Big Dome.

The Beermen still have an outside chance of landing in the top four but it all depends on the results of the other matches. For the 2019 Philippine and Commissioner’s Cup champs to secure the incentive, they need one of two scenarios to materialize. One, the Gin Kings must lose their 2 remaining games, or two, the KaTropa must drop its game against the Hotshots.

If by any chance one of the two, or even both, should happen, then all the Beermen need is to win its final game of the elims against the KaTropa and the incentive is theirs.