The Ginebra Gin Kings and the Meralco Bolts meet again in the quarters, months after duking it out in the same stage in the Governors' Cup this PBA season.
The PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup playoff cast is almost complete.
Top-seeded NorthPort only awaits the winner between Magnolia and NLEX, which will battle for the last playoff berth on Sunday, Feb. 2, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The stage, however, is set for the other six teams: TNT, Converge, Ginebra, Meralco, Rain or Shine and Eastern.
In this article, One Sports focuses on the highly anticipated matchup between playoff rivals Gin Kings and Bolts.
Ginebra and Meralco are set to engage in a best-of-three quarterfinals, months after the former overwhelmed the latter in the same stage of the Governors’ Cup this season.
How Ginebra and Meralco got to the playoffs
Ginebra (8-4)
The Gin Kings secured a spot in the quarterfinals in an explosive fashion, drubbing Rain or Shine, 120-92, last Jan. 22.
They followed that up with a 91-87 pipping of the Bolts to clinch the No. 4 seed.
Though Ginebra is tied with TNT and Converge, the Gin Kings wound up at fourth by virtue of the quotient system.
Who will emerge victorious in the latest installment of the playoff battle between the Ginebra Gin Kings and the Meralco Bolts? | Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports
Meralco (7-5)
Weeks ago, Meralco was pretty much in the race for a twice-to-beat advantage with its 7-3 mark.
But its setback against Ginebra quickly dashed their hopes for a playoff incentive.
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Ginebra and Meralco's previous matchup
The Gin Kings exploited Akil Mitchell’s absence to secure their four-point victory over Meralco last Wednesday, Jan. 29.
While Justin Brownlee and the rest of the Ginebra core suited up, bench players like Von Pessumal and Raymond Aguilar saw extended minutes for the Gin Kings.
[RELATED STORY: Gin Kings bench players see extended minutes vs Bolts to 'stay sharp' in prep for PBA QF]
Mitchell was nursing back spasms and also did not see action in the Bolts’ final elimination-round game against Magnolia last Friday, Jan. 31.
Ginebra has Meralco’s number in the playoffs since they battled in the 2016 Governors’ Cup Finals.
The Bolts won only twice in nine meetings against the Gin Kings in the playoffs.
[RELATED STORY: PBA: Reliving the Ginebra-Meralco rivalry, playoff edition | OneSports.PH
Will Ginebra keep the trend? Or will Meralco prevail a third time?