PBA releases Govs' Cup playoff schedule

The PBA has released its schedule for the rest of the 2013 PBA Governors’ Cup. After the elimination round, the top four teams will gain a twice-to-beat advantage against the next four teams. The two teams with the lowest records will be eliminated.

September 23, Monday, is tabbed for playoff games in case there are ties between the fourth and fifth teams and between the eighth and ninth teams. If there are no ties, this game day penciled for the Cuneta Astrodome will remain vacant.

The quarterfinals will start on Tuesday, September 24, with four teams seeing action. The other four teams take the court on the following day. The PBA will hold the games at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum on both days.

If the bottom four teams score victories, the quarterfinals will be extended to September 26 and 27, Thursday and Friday, at the MOA Arena.

The best-of-five semifinals will start on September 29, Sunday. Only one game will be played per day so the semis can stretch on until October 9 if necessary.

The 2013 PBA Governors Cup Finals will tip off at the MOA Arena on October 11, Friday. The best-of-seven finals series will follow the PBA’s regular Wednesday-Friday-Sunday schedule. Games 1 and 4 will be at the MOA Arena and the rest of the games will be played at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. If the series stretches on for seven games, the Governors’ Cup champion will be crowned on October 25, Friday.

Currently, only the Petron Blaze Boosters are assured of their spot as no other team can match their current 8-1 win loss tally. The San Mig Coffee Mixers and the Meralco Bolts are tied for the seconnd and third places with their identical 5-3 tallies but this tie will be broken soon as the two teams face each other on September 20.

The Rain or Shine Elastopainters and Barako Bull Energy Cola are tied for fourth and fifth with 4-4 cards, while Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and the Alaska Aces trail them with 3-4 reconds.

The GlobalPort Batang Pier (3-5), Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters (2-5), and Air21 Express (2-6) will fight for the last slot in the quarterfinals. - CLP, GMA News