After an exciting, at times predictable, eliminations, the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals are already set. The top four seeds—San Miguel Beermen, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, TNT Tropang 5G, and Converge FiberXers—need to win only once to advance to the semis against their adversaries in the NLEX Road Warriors, Meralco Bolts, Magnolia Hotshots, and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, respectively.
With the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals stage set and the game schedules already out, let’s look at one key question whose answer could very well define how each series will go.
(1) San Miguel vs. (8) NLEX
Can Robert Bolick be a game-changer?
NLEX will be going into this matchup with the confidence that it beat San Miguel even without leading man Robert Bolick. But that was eons ago, and since then the Beermen have gone on to win nine straight and are looking invincible. The Road Warriors will also have Berto back, and he’s the kind of singular talent who can sway games in favor of his team. Whether he can do that against an inspired San Miguel squad in the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals no less remains to be seen.
Prediction: San Miguel wins on Saturday and advances to the semis.
(2) Rain or Shine vs. (7) Meralco
Can Rain or Shine keep Meralco off the offensive glass?
Meralco is far and away the most prolific offensive rebounding team, hauling down 19.4 offensive caroms per game. That aspect figures to be the Bolts’ decided advantage in this series, especially with Rain or Shine’s lack of size up front. Needless to say, the Elasto Painters need to keep Brandon Bates (league leader with 4.5 offensive boards a game) and the rest of the Bolts off the offensive glass to not only complete defensive stops, but also get opportunities to run and score in transition.
Prediction: Meralco dominates the glass and sends this matchup to a winner-take-all.
(3) TNT vs. (6) Magnolia
Will either of Jerom Lastimosa or Paul Lee be available?
Even the return of LA Tenorio in Magnolia’s final-day loss to TNT couldn’t compensate for the Hotshots losing two of their chief playmakers to injury. And with the Tropa likely to amp up their level of play—their swarming, tenacious defense, in particular—in these quarterfinals, that lack of playmaking will be even more pronounced despite Tenorio’s calming presence. But with a few more days before these two teams meet again in the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals, maybe there’s a chance either Lee or Lastimosa could be back.
Prediction: Lastimosa might give it a go, but TNT will handle business nonetheless and advance.
(4) Converge vs. (5) Ginebra
Does Ginebra now have an antidote for Juan Gomez de Liaño?
Super rookie Juan Gomez de Liaño absolutely torched Ginebra when Converge beat the crowd darlings earlier this conference, and he’ll surely be looking for an encore in these PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals. When he gets going, the FiberXers tend to follow his lead, which is something Ginebra would love to avoid. That’s why Stephen Holt, Scottie Thompson, and probably Jayson David will need to make sure JGDL is contained if Ginebra is going to have a chance against this talented and hungry Converge squad.
Prediction: Ginebra makes it hard on Gomez de Liaño and forces a do-or-die second game.
PBA Philippine Cup Quarterfinals Schedule
The PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals will start on Christmas Day with a twin bill at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. San Miguel and NLEX open hostilities, followed by Ginebra and Converge in the nightcap. Quarterfinal action will continue on Saturday at the same venue, with Rain or Shine and Meralco clashing in the first game, and Magnolia and TNT facing off in the second game.
