Lakers in 5? Warriors in 6? NorthPort’s Joshua Munzon, Ginebra’s Isaac Go, and more PBA players dish their 2025 NBA playoffs round 1 predictions.
We’re seven days into the 2025 NBA playoffs, and most of the series in both the Eastern and Western Conferences are living up to the hype.
Six of the eight brackets featured a neck-and-neck slugfest, including four of those teams taking 2-1 leads.
Lakers in 5? Warriors in 6? Some of active and former PBA players chimed in to share their playoff predictions on some star-studded matchups.
Joshua Munzon - NorthPort Batang Pier
Munzon’s predictions: Boston Celtics over Orlando Magic in 5 | New York Knicks over Detroit Pistons in 6
There’s no doubt in the mind of the former top overall pick in the 2020 PBA draft that the defending champion Celtics will come out on top against the Magic.
“[Boston] Celtics in five [games] for sure,” he bared.
While admitting the Pistons also impressed him as of late, the 30-year-old picked the third-seeded Knicks to prevail over Detroit.
“I like the [New York] Knicks honestly, but even though the [Detroit] Pistons are a really good team. I’ll say [the] Knicks in six [games],” Munzon revealed.
As it stands, both Boston and New York seize a 2-1 series leads respectively over the lower-seeded Magic and Pistons.
Isaac Go - Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
Go’s predictions: Los Angeles Lakers over Minnesota Timberwolves in 5 | Golden State Warriors over Houston Rockets in 6
The sweet-shooting big man chose Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Co. over Anthony Edwards and the team who just made the Western Conference Finals last year.
That is despite Minnesota winning Game 3 earlier to gain a 2-1 advantage over the Lakers.
[ALSO READ: Timberwolves overcome Lebron James’ 38, Lakers in Game 3 to seize 2-1 series lead]
Go also leaned towards the dynastic Warriors against a Rockets team which won 52 games in the regular season.
“[I’ll say] Lakers in five [games] and Golden State in six [games],” the former Ateneo Blue Eagle revealed.
Tied at one-game apiece, Golden State hosts Houston in Game 3 set for tomorrow, April 27 with a 2-1 lead at stake.
Sidney Onwubere - NorthPort Batang Pier
Onwubere’s predictions: Boston Celtics over Orlando Magic in 5 | New York Knicks over Detroit Pistons in 6
Much like his teammate in Munzon, Onwubere has the Celtics and Knicks toppling the Magic and Pistons respectively.
“I think that series will go 4-1 [in favor of Boston],” the 31-year-old bruiser said. “I’ll go with the Knicks. I think that [series] will go 4-2.”
[ALSO READ: Coast-to-Coast: Bucks, Magic get on playoff board; Timberwolves reclaim series control vs Lakers]
Javi Gómez de Liaño - Terrafirma Dyip / Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters (KBL)
Javi GDL’s predictions: Golden State Warriors over Houston Rockets | Detroit Pistons over New York Knicks
In a surprise appearance, Gómez de Liaño returned the country to watch some PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup action. He was coming off his first KBL stint with the Anyang Red Boosters, who got eliminated in the quarterfinal round.
The former Dyip leaned towards the Warriors in their opening-round series against the second-seeded Rockets as well as favoring the underdog Pistons over the veteran Knicks in the East.
“I think the [Golden State] Warriors might win that [series over the Houston Rockets],” the 26-year-old cager spoke.
He added: “In the East, I want Detroit [Pistons] to win [against the Knicks].”
[ALSO READ: Javi Gomez de Liaño set for PBA comeback with ‘big market team’ after KBL stint?]
(With reports from Jan Ballesteros, Gillian Trinidad/One Sports Digital]