'What If': Which teams get 2x-to-beat in PBA Commissioner's Cup

What if the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup elimination round ended during the Christmas break?

Well, it would be sight to behold for fans screaming “parity” over the last few years, since NorthPort and Rain or Shine would sit atop the heap with a 6-1 and 4-1 win-loss tallies, respectively.

[RELATED STORY: LIST: Top local performers so far in PBA Commissioner’s Cup]

Unlike the season-opening Governors’ Cup, the quarterfinals will see the top-2 teams enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage. Squads seeded three to six, meanwhile, will engage in a best-of-three series.

Winners will advance to best-of-seven semifinals before the two survivors face in another seven-game finale.

[ALSO READ: PBA Commissioner’s Cup refresher: Dark horses Rain or Shine, Converge, NorthPort pose threat]

On that note, here’s the first part of how the playoffs will look like if it started today.

NorthPort claims top spot

Red-hot NorthPort will claim the top spot as well as the twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals, if the playoffs started now.

Behind import Kadeem Jack, Arvin Tolentino, and former top overall pick Joshua Munzon, the Batang Pier raced off to a scintillating 5-0 start in the mid-season conference.

But they could face teams like league juggernauts San Miguel, TNT, and Magnolia in the playoffs.

[ALSO READ: NorthPort import Kadeem Jack shared how former Converge reinforcement told him about PBA]

At the moment, the aforementioned teams are still trying to figure things out but there is no doubt that when the chips are down, these battle-tested squad could humble the streaking NorthPort. Nevertheless, the Batang Pier certainly look like a team on the rise and a true contender for a deep playoff run.

Rain or Shine claims second seed

Rain or Shine rides the crest of an impressive four-game winning streak.

Deon Thompson seems tailor-fit for a squad, which parades a young core led by Adrian Nocum, Andrei Caracut, and Santi Santillan.

But like the Batang Pier, the Elasto Painters — armed with the twice-to-beat incentive — could be in line to face battle-tested teams in the quarterfinals if things stay the course.

[ALSO READ: PBA Commissioner's Cup refresher: Championship contenders still figuring things out]

But now with a pint of experience in the playoffs going up against the likes of the Beermen, Rain or Shine looks ready to take things to another level now.