The playoff cast for the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup is set, but the crucial final seedings are yet to be determined.
The PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup playoff cast is officially set, with eight teams punching their ticket to the quarterfinals: Magnolia, NLEX, San Miguel, Ginebra, TNT, Rain or Shine, Converge, and defending champion Meralco.
What’s still up in the air is the final seeding—a crucial detail, as the top four teams earn a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
Recent history favors the top squads. Since 2020, every no. 1 seed has made the Finals, with three winning the championship.
Additionally, no team seeded lower than third has reached the Finals in that span. In the quarterfinals, lower seeds have only advanced three times, all via 5-over-4 upsets.
As of June 2, Magnolia and NLEX are tied at the top at 7-2, with San Miguel (6-2) close behind and Ginebra (6-3) trying to hold off TNT and Rain or Shine (both at 5-3) for that last top-4 slot.
Playoffs standings (as of June 2):
- Magnolia Hotshots 7-2
- NLEX Road Warriors 7-2
- San Miguel Beermen 6-2
- Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel 6-3
- TNT Tropang Giga 5-3
- Rain or Shine Elasto Painters 5-3
- Converge FiberXers 6-4
- Meralco Bolts 6-5
With only a few games left, the race for quarterfinal positioning could be the difference between an early exit and a Finals run.
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]