Just four games remain in the elimination round of the 2023 PBA Governors' Cup and the quarterfinal cast is shaping up with seedings still up in the air. Two teams are vying for the final top-four spot -- which gets the coveted twice-to-beat advantage in the first round. Here's a summary of what we know and what's still at stake.
Games remaining
March 15: NorthPort Batang Pier (3-7) vs. TNT Tropang Giga (8-1), NLEX Road Warriors (7-3) vs. San Miguel Beermen (7-2)
March 17: San Miguel Beermen vs. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (2-8), TNT Tropang Giga vs. Barangay Ginebra (8-2)
What we know
Blackwater Bossing (1-10), Terrafirma Dyip (2-9) and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (2-8) are all eliminated.
TNT, SMB, Ginebra, NLEX, Meralco Bolts (7-4), Magnolia Hotshots (7-4) and Converge FiberXers (6-5) are in the quarterfinals.
TNT, SMB and Ginebra will finish in the top four and have secured a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
Magnolia and Converge can no longer finish in the top four regardless of the results of the remaining games. Converge is sure to be the seventh seed.
What's still at stake
The eighth seed. NorthPort still has a chance to catch the Phoenix Super LPG (4-7) for eighth place. If they beat the Tropang Giga on the 15th, then they will face the Fuel Masters in a one-game playoff for the final quarterfinal ticket.
The final twice-to-beat seed. Still in contention for a top-four finish are NLEX and Meralco. Who will get to it depends on the results of San Miguel's two remaining games. If NLEX beats SMB, they will finish in the top four, possibly as high as third. If SMB beats NLEX, Meralco finishes fourth.
First, second and third. This is where it gets complicated. TNT, Ginebra and San Miguel all still have a crack at the top seed, and all still have at least one game to play. Here are the different scenarios:
TNT beats NorthPort and Ginebra, San Miguel beats NLEX and Rain or Shine. In this scenario, the top three will be TNT, SMB and Ginebra.
TNT beats NorthPort but loses to Ginebra by 1-2 points, San Miguel beats NLEX and Rain or Shine. The top three will be SMB, TNT and Ginebra.
TNT beats NorthPort but loses to Ginebra by 3 or more, San Miguel beats NLEX and Rain or Shine. The top three will be SMB, Ginebra and TNT.
TNT loses to both NorthPort and Ginebra, San Miguel beats NLEX and Rain or Shine. The top three will be SMB, Ginebra and TNT.
TNT loses to both NorthPort and Ginebra, San Miguel beats only one of NLEX or Rain or Shine. The top three will be Ginebra, TNT and SMB.
TNT loses to NorthPort but beats Ginebra, San Miguel beats NLEX and Rain or Shine. The top three will be TNT, SMB and Ginebra.
TNT loses to NorthPort but beats Ginebra, San Miguel beats only one of NLEX or Rain or Shine. The top three will be TNT, SMB and Ginebra.
TNT loses to NorthPort but beats Ginebra, San Miguel loses to NLEX and Rain or Shine. The top three will be TNT, Ginebra and NLEX.