PBA: Barangay Ginebra, Talk ‘N Text hold key to post-season seeding

The Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings and the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters will battle separate foes on Wednesday, at the Araneta Coliseum, as the two squads look to book automatic semifinals berths in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.   But more than the two squads will be affected by their victories or losses. Four different scenarios loom large, with additional one-game playoffs for seeding purposes looking like a necessity. Is your favorite team locked in, out of the picture entirely, or hanging by a thread? That all depends on who wins on Wednesday.   The games slated for the last day of the elimination round starts with the Air21 Express colliding with the Barangay Ginebra Kings at 5:15 p.m., while the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters duel with the Petron Blaze Boosters afterwards, at 7:30 p.m. When the dust settles, what happens next?   Scenario 1:  The Barangay Ginebra Kings defeat the Air21 Express; the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters defeat the Petron Blaze Boosters  

	WINS	LOSSES
Talk ‘N Text	7	2	Automatic semifinals berth
B-MEG	6	3	Playoff for the automatic semifinals berth on Friday, March 30
Barangay Ginebra	6	3
Alaska	5	4	Quarterfinals berth
Barako Bull	4	5	Quotient = 1.0983	Quarterfinals berth
Meralco	4	5	Quotient = 1.0290	Playoff for a quarterfinals berth on Friday, March 30
Powerade	4	5	Quotient = 1.0109
Petron	3	6	Eliminated
Air21	3	6
Rain or Shine	3	6

  In the Commissioner’s Cup, playoffs will be held for teams battling for the #2 and #6 positions, with the PBA quotient (divide a team’s total points against the other affected squads, by the team’s total points allowed against those same teams) being used to break three-or-more team ties.   Both those rules come into play here. Talk ‘N Text books the first ticket to the semifinals, getting a first round bye, while B-MEG and Ginebra have to duke it out to join the Tropang Texters. The loser of that playoff joins the Alaska Aces and the Barako Bull Energy as the quarterfinalists, with the sixth seed requiring a playoff as well, between the Meralco Bolts and the Powerade Tigers, the two squads who have a lower quotient than the Energy.   Regardless of the scenario, these playoffs for seeding purposes will take place on Friday, March 30, at the Cuneta Astrodome.   Scenario 2: The Barangay Ginebra Kings defeat the Air21 Express; the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters lose to the Petron Blaze Boosters  

	WINS	LOSSES
B-MEG	6	3	Quotient = 1.0510	Automatic semifinals berth
Talk ‘N Text	6	3	Quotient = 1.0158	Playoff for the automatic semifinals berth on Friday, March 30
Barangay Ginebra	6	3	Quotient = 0.9350
Alaska	5	4	Quarterfinals berth
Barako Bull	4	5	Quotient = 1.1225	Quarterfinals berth
Meralco	4	5	Quotient = 1.1060	Playoff for a quarterfinals berth on Friday, March 30
Powerade	4	5	Quotient = 1.0443
Petron	4	5	Quotient = 0.8450	Eliminated
Air21	3	6	Eliminated
Rain or Shine	3	6

  This scenario sees three teams finish with a 6-3 record. Using the quotient, B-MEG moves ahead, claiming the direct route to the semifinals. That leaves TNT and BGK to duel for the other spot.   Like the first case, Alaska and Barako Bull make it into the quarterfinals, with Meralco and Powerade fighting for the sixth seed again. Though Petron is 4-5, they have the lowest quotient and are automatically eliminated.   Scenario 3: The Barangay Ginebra Kings lose to the Air21 Express; the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters defeat the Petron Blaze Boosters  

	WINS	LOSSES
Talk ‘N Text	7	2	Automatic semifinals berth
B-MEG	6	3
Alaska	5	4	Quotient = 1.0270	Quarterfinals berth
Barangay Ginebra	5	4	Quotient = 0.9736
Powerade	4	5	Quotient = 1.1127
Meralco	4	5	Quotient = 1.0570	Playoff for a quarterfinals berth on Friday, March 30
Barako Bull	4	5	Quotient = 1.0300
Air21	4	5	Quotient = 0.9030	Eliminated
Petron Blaze	3	6	Eliminated
Rain or Shine	3	6

  This scenario has Talk ‘N Text as the clear victors, with B-MEG claiming the second seed. Both those squads get a break to recharge while the quarterfinalists slug it out.   Two of those quarterfinal slots go to Alaska and Ginebra, with Powerade making it this time as the 4-5 squad. Meralco and Barako Bull face each other for the last spot in the post-season, while Air21 just misses out, thanks to the quotient rule.   Scenario 4: The Barangay Ginebra Kings lose to the Air21 Express; the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters lose to the Petron Blaze Boosters  

	WINS	LOSSES
Talk ‘N Text	6	3	Quotient = 1.0625	Automatic semifinals berth
B-MEG	6	3	Quotient = 0.9412
Alaska	5	4	Quotient = 1.0270	Quarterfinals berth
Barangay Ginebra	5	4	Quotient = 0.9736
Powerade	4	5	Quotient = 1.1129
Meralco	4	5	Quotient = 1.1070	Playoff for a quarterfinals berth on Friday, March 30
Barako Bull	4	5	Quotient = 1.0630
Petron Blaze	4	5	Quotient = 0.9170	Eliminated
Air21	4	5	Quotient = 0.8930
Rain or Shine	3	6	Eliminated

  In the final scenario, Talk ‘N Text and B-MEG tie with 6-3 records, but the defending champions claim the overall number one seed, thanks to a superior quotient. Alaska and Ginebra come next, followed by Powerade, and once again Meralco and Barako Bull will fight for the right to be ranked six and make the quarterfinals.   Though Petron and Air21 both possess 4-5 records, their quotients just aren’t up to snuff and they get eliminated. - KBK, GMA News