NorthPort’s Mission: A Twice-to-Beat Bonus
- Current Standing: NorthPort holds a 7-3 record, ensuring a playoff spot but striving for a Top Two finish to secure a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
- Recent Struggles: After leading early in the season, the team lost three of its last five games, including defeats to Phoenix Fuel Masters, Meralco Bolts, and Rain or Shine.
- Path Forward: Coach Bonnie Tan emphasizes the need for a strong finish, with key games against San Miguel and Blackwater still ahead.
San Miguel Beer’s Playoff Bid
- Current Standing: San Miguel sits precariously in eighth place at 4-5, narrowly ahead of Magnolia (4-6), NLEX (4-6), and Phoenix (3-7).
- Recent Challenges: The Beermen dropped three of their last four games, leaving little room for error.
- Remaining Games: Facing NorthPort, Converge FiberXers, and TNT Tropang Giga, SMB needs to maximize wins to secure a playoff berth.
Key Stakes of the Match
- For NorthPort: Victory keeps them competitive in the tightly contested race for a Top Two finish, alongside teams like TNT (6-2), Converge (8-3), Meralco (7-3), and Rain or Shine (6-3).
- For SMB: A win against NorthPort is crucial to maintaining their hold on the eighth spot and staying ahead of close competitors.
The NorthPort-SMB matchup is a virtual playoff game with high stakes for both teams. While NorthPort aims to regain momentum for a twice-to-beat bonus, SMB fights to keep their playoff hopes alive in a tightly packed standings race.
1st Q2ND Q3RD Q4TH Q
23:51
30:49
26:55
39:35