There are several teams who want to sustain their fine play in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup, Ginebra and TNT included.
Barely a month before the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup playoffs unfurl, teams are mounting every ounce of will to improve their chances in winning the league's crown jewel.
The team standings can still get wild, with seven teams having at least four wins. With that in mind, let’s check out this week’s set of games to see what's popping in the Philippine Cup:
April 17 | Ninoy Aquino Stadium
Rain or Shine vs. NorthPort - 4:30 p.m.
Magnolia vs. Blackwater - 7:30 p.m.
One of the hottest teams in the PBA right now takes on a reeling team.
There seems to be no plans of slowing down for Rain or Shine after four straight wins in the All-Filipino Conference. The Elasto Painters used their streak to get right back into playoff contention, as their 0-4 start is all but a distant memory.
Meanwhile, NorthPort has lost back-to-back games, undoing what was a strong 4-1 start. Still, after building a solid foundation, all the Batang Pier need is a timely win and they're back to chasing a twice-to-beat edge in the quarterfinals.
April 19 | Philsports Arena
Converge vs. San Miguel - 4:30 p.m.
Ginebra vs. TNT - 7:30 p.m.
Who would get to keep its win streak going?
That’s the theme of the Ginebra-TNT match in the main game Friday with both teams coming off back-to-back wins.
With teams bunched together in the middle of the standings, every game from now on could have big implications, especially for these two perennial contenders.
April 20 | Ynares Pasig/Tiaong Convention Center
NLEX vs. Phoenix - 3:00 p.m. (Ynares Pasig)
Rain or Shine vs. Magnolia - 6:15 p.m. (Tiaong Convention Center)
By this time, Rain or Shine and Magnolia could be riding the crest of their respective winning runs.
It would be interesting to know whether a defensive-minded Magnolia could stop a Rain or Shine side whose offense could come from anyone.
April 21 | Philsports Arena
Meralco vs. Converge - 3:00 p.m.
San Miguel vs. NorthPort - 6:15 p.m.
It won’t be surprising to see San Miguel gunning for a seventh-straight win in the conference when it takes on NorthPort by this time.
But even when the Beermen are on a roll like that, the Batang Pier could be one of the few teams that can cut them down to size.
It should br interesting to see how a promising frontcourt that boasts of rookie Zav Lucero, William Navarro, as well as lanky wingers in Arvin Tolentino and Joshua Munzon can fare against battle-tested Beermen team.