The San Miguel Beermen have officially claimed the top position in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup as the elimination round concluded. The defending champions solidified their number one ranking, earning a crucial advantage for the upcoming quarterfinals.
Beermen Seal Top Spot with Dominant Record
Finishing the elimination round with an impressive 9 wins and only 2 losses, the Beermen left no doubt about their championship aspirations. This stellar performance guarantees them the coveted twice-to-beat advantage in the first round of the playoffs. They will face the eighth-seeded team, needing only one win to advance while their opponent must defeat them twice.
Final Standings and Closing Games
The race for playoff positioning saw several teams jockeying for place. Following closely behind San Miguel are the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters with an 8-3 record. The TNT Tropang Giga and the Converge FiberXers are also in strong contention with records of 7-3 and 7-4, respectively.
In their final assignment, the Beermen demonstrated their offensive firepower by overpowering the Meralco Bolts with a 113-104 victory. Meanwhile, as of the latest reports, a crucial curtain-closing game was still underway between the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings (6-4) and the Titan Ultra (4-6), which would determine the final seeding in the lower half of the standings.
Playoff Implications and Road Ahead
Securing the top seed is a significant psychological and strategic victory for the San Miguel franchise. The twice-to-beat privilege provides a critical safety net as they begin their title defense in the knockout stages. The team, led by perennial All-Star June Mar Fajardo, has positioned itself as the clear favorite to win the coveted Philippine Cup once again.
All eyes now turn to the quarterfinal matchups, where the Beermen will await the final eighth seed. The rest of the playoff bracket will feature intense battles, with teams like Rain or Shine, TNT, and Converge looking to challenge the reigning champions' throne.
