2022–23 PBA Commissioner's Cup

[Finestream]

SMB on the other is struggling to be in the top 4, if they can't land in the twice to beat advantage spot, their quest for the grand slam is over for now.

Don't say that, I will fully disagree with you because SMB has been in this situation many times and yet they still win in the end.
They can beat a team with their good line up, even if they have to beat them twice, this is why I like to beat on SMB when they really need to win as I know they will give everything they have to win, and with their current local line up now and their beast import, they can certainly win as long as they have the chemistry and remain calm when playing.

Lol, yeah we've seen them in scary situations but it should have not that way always. Even coaches in the PBA agree that SMB is vulnerable during playoffs and they became a scary team during a best of 5/7 game series. BTW, they still have a chance to land to the top 4 if the Bolts will loss two games and SMB winning all their remainder games.

That's unlikely to happen, with the way the bolts are showing dominating the SMB, there's no reason they will loss against a weaker teams in the PBA.
The remaining games of the bolts are against the following and I like to classify the teams based IMO>

Ginebra SMB   - strong
Comumbyain DYIP - average
Northport  - average
Rain or shine - weak

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[Questat]

SMB on the other is struggling to be in the top 4, if they can't land in the twice to beat advantage spot, their quest for the grand slam is over for now.

Don't say that, I will fully disagree with you because SMB has been in this situation many times and yet they still win in the end.
They can beat a team with their good line up, even if they have to beat them twice, this is why I like to beat on SMB when they really need to win as I know they will give everything they have to win, and with their current local line up now and their beast import, they can certainly win as long as they have the chemistry and remain calm when playing.

Lol, yeah we've seen them in scary situations but it should have not that way always. Even coaches in the PBA agree that SMB is vulnerable during playoffs and they became a scary team during a best of 5/7 game series. BTW, they still have a chance to land to the top 4 if the Bolts will loss two games and SMB winning all their remainder games.

That's unlikely to happen, with the way the bolts are showing dominating the SMB, there's no reason they will loss against a weaker teams in the PBA.
The remaining games of the bolts are against the following and I like to classify the teams based IMO>

Ginebra SMB   - strong
Comumbyain DYIP - average
Northport  - average
Rain or shine - weak

If they will loss against the Ginebra SMB   and Northport , they might be in the lower position.
SMB was just having an off night so let us not conclude that even if they will not have the advantage of twice to beat, they will be eliminated.
Comes playoff time, Fajardo will be activated, this "kraken" will surely become beast again in the inside but their import needs to learn how to share the ball so it will give rhythm to the local and they will eventually contribute to win, once they figure that out, they can beat a team twice in a row.

[NavI_027]

What an excellent performance shown by SMB ! They won against Blackwater Elite, the final score 99-96 by the end of OT. Now I realized how strong they are, imagine they able to win without having their import in the court. Hands down, what all I can say is 4 words — Fajardo was already ENOUGH.

[Vaculin]

We have a very entertaining game tonight.

its Ginebra San Miguel vs TNT, these are great teams in the PBA and Bobby Ray Parks will make his debut in the TNT uniform so we will see if he can contribute to the team like he usually do.

TNT 1.73 vs Ginebra 2.03/  I think Ginebra will win this game. THOUGHTS?

[Ranly123]

We have a very entertaining game tonight.

its Ginebra San Miguel vs TNT, these are great teams in the PBA and Bobby Ray Parks will make his debut in the TNT uniform so we will see if he can contribute to the team like he usually do.

TNT 1.73 vs Ginebra 2.03/  I think Ginebra will win this game. THOUGHTS?

It would be TnT to win tonight. With the addition of Parks it would be another pain in the ass for Ginebra. I still believe that Castro will deliver for the team as usual. Rosario and Pogoy should also step up for them to secure the win.

[Botnake]

We have a very entertaining game tonight.

its Ginebra San Miguel vs TNT, these are great teams in the PBA and Bobby Ray Parks will make his debut in the TNT uniform so we will see if he can contribute to the team like he usually do.

TNT 1.73 vs Ginebra 2.03/  I think Ginebra will win this game. THOUGHTS?

It would be TnT to win tonight. With the addition of Parks it would be another pain in the ass for Ginebra. I still believe that Castro will deliver for the team as usual. Rosario and Pogoy should also step up for them to secure the win.

I hope that's what majority of people are thinking, I am looking at the chemistry problem here, its his first game so more likely there is no chemistry yet.
Ginebra is not an easy team to beat also, I think Ginebra loss their previous game so I'm expecting them to give a fight to the TNT tonight.

Regardless of the outcome, this is going to be a great game, but I'll bet on the Gins here.

[Kasabus]

Regardless of the outcome, this is going to be a great game, but I'll bet on the Gins here.

That's expected, the Ginebra faithful will be watching this game because its Friday night in the Philippines, this will surely attract a big crowd and hopefully this game will go into OT or will end in a close match.

[Russlenat]

Another losing night for the SMB, they loss against the Rain or shine because their import did not contribute well.
It was the local who made an effort to rally in the 4th quarter but they still fell short and the Rain or shine skip that late surge by the SMB and take a win.

It's a road game, a court where they are not so familiar so this ended a low scoring game as expected.

Holland the new import of SMB only scored 10 points, (this is the missing link of the SMB), hopefully it's just one game off and he will bounce back next time.


scores here - https://pba.ph/recap?match=1352327

[Vaculin]

Did you see the heroic basket of Jericho Cruz?

you can watch the highlights here - Highlights: Magnolia vs NLEX | PBA Governors’ Cup 2019

It was a very entertaining game, I thought NLEX will just let this go and accept a defeat but I was wrong, they rally in the 2nd half to win this game by 1 point only. Who among you here watch the game that time? Did you feel the excitement like I do?

[bisdak40]

Did you see the heroic basket of Jericho Cruz?

you can watch the highlights here - Highlights: Magnolia vs NLEX | PBA Governors’ Cup 2019

It was a very entertaining game, I thought NLEX will just let this go and accept a defeat but I was wrong, they rally in the 2nd half to win this game by 1 point only. Who among you here watch the game that time? Did you feel the excitement like I do?

It was indeed an exciting game sans those unnecessary second motion made by Jericho Cruz (planting an elbow on Travis' face) that made cheer for Magnolia to win lol. Nevertheless i'm excited because i have bet for NLEX when they were down +10 points.

But can't just imagine what a crazy foul committed by Barocca  on Ravena, he should have let it go because there is no much time left.

[Golftech]

Did you see the heroic basket of Jericho Cruz?

you can watch the highlights here - Highlights: Magnolia vs NLEX | PBA Governors’ Cup 2019

It was a very entertaining game, I thought NLEX will just let this go and accept a defeat but I was wrong, they rally in the 2nd half to win this game by 1 point only. Who among you here watch the game that time? Did you feel the excitement like I do?

That wild follow up shot really surprising as there's no time left and Hotshot should secured the boards but to my surprise Erram able to tip the ball and lickily Cruz follow up and made the basket, That's really a luck for them. They've escaped the good game that Hotshot bring in the first half, This really gives them the credit for continuing chasing and not to let go.

[GreatArkansas]

Omg, seems the win of NLEX Road warriors is trending, I also watching that epic victory since 1st quarter with extremely huge score advantage and import of NLEX Road Warriors got his first two points on start of the second half.
Seems coach Yeng Guiao is already figured out how to win the game, he even playing some mind games on the import of Magnolia hotshots, they are funny to watch. Well, kudos to sll NLEX RoadWarriors players and staffs.

[Kasabus]

Seems coach Yeng Guiao is already figured out how to win the game, he even playing some mind games on the import of Magnolia hotshots, they are funny to watch. Well, kudos to sll NLEX RoadWarriors players and staffs.

They have a big comeback like they did against the Ginebra San Miguel.
Coach Yeng's strategy in this game is he sat his import for the entire 2nd quarter to observe the game and then their import engineered a big comeback in the 2nd half as most of his points are coming from the 2nd half, credit also to the import as that guy was a legit import, more wins for this team.

[Ranly123]

Omg, seems the win of NLEX Road warriors is trending, I also watching that epic victory since 1st quarter with extremely huge score advantage and import of NLEX Road Warriors got his first two points on start of the second half.
Seems coach Yeng Guiao is already figured out how to win the game, he even playing some mind games on the import of Magnolia hotshots, they are funny to watch. Well, kudos to sll NLEX RoadWarriors players and staffs.

Just as I said, still SMB teams will reach the finals. A win today for NLEX does not guarantee them a slot for the finals. They have done it on previous conferences but they can't even reach the finals. It's their player's composure that matter when playoffs comes.

[Sanitough]

Omg, seems the win of NLEX Road warriors is trending, I also watching that epic victory since 1st quarter with extremely huge score advantage and import of NLEX Road Warriors got his first two points on start of the second half.
Seems coach Yeng Guiao is already figured out how to win the game, he even playing some mind games on the import of Magnolia hotshots, they are funny to watch. Well, kudos to sll NLEX RoadWarriors players and staffs.

Just as I said, still SMB teams will reach the finals. A win today for NLEX does not guarantee them a slot for the finals. They have done it on previous conferences but they can't even reach the finals. It's their player's composure that matter when playoffs comes.

SMB will be able to make it in the playoffs but they will be in a twice to beat disadvantage, of course they've done it before but we haven't seen enough from their import if it's really helpful to the team.

Also, please remember that they don't have Stand playing with them anymore, that could be a minus on their part.

[Botnake]

Also, please remember that they don't have Stand playing with them anymore, that could be a minus on their part.

True because the last time they won the championship, it was stand who guarded Jones and he was very effective at that point.

Now, that he is gone, they need to find a 2nd unit that would help to fill the position of Fajardo when he is resting.

I think they have a very difficult journey this conference, they might rank in the number 5 spot and they will play against the Ginebra SMB where they need to beat them twice, it's like a conference finals if they will face in that bracket.

[bisdak40]

I think they have a very difficult journey this conference, they might rank in the number 5 spot and they will play against the Ginebra SMB where they need to beat them twice, it's like a conference finals if they will face in that bracket.

SMB will rank no.5 in the standings whatever happens on their remaining games, a SMB vs Ginebra match in the playoff is unavoidable this time. SMB is very vulnerable in the playoffs, they are just lucky last time against NorthPort but this time against a crowd favorite team, they need a dominant import which for now they don't have. Holland is adjusting to the game while Wells got problem on some of the SMB players, they need to pick who they gonna play come playoff time and hope Slaughter will not play as he is nursing an injury.

SMB's journey to the grand slam is not looking good as of now.

[mirakal]

and hope Slaughter will not play as he is nursing an injury.

Even if this guy is healthy, I would choose not to play him if I'm the coach as he has less impact inside compared to Aguilar.
The Ginebra Kings can still defend Fajardo but they can't stop him, maybe limit them but that's alright because they have a very dominant import which is brownlee and therefore they just have to pick their poison, its actually a mind game when you played against SMB.

SMB's journey to the grand slam is not looking good as of now.

Agree with that, but who knows the import might show up in the 2nd game, maybe you are right he was just adjusting.

[Ranly123]

I think they have a very difficult journey this conference, they might rank in the number 5 spot and they will play against the Ginebra SMB where they need to beat them twice, it's like a conference finals if they will face in that bracket.

SMB will rank no.5 in the standings whatever happens on their remaining games, a SMB vs Ginebra match in the playoff is unavoidable this time. SMB is very vulnerable in the playoffs, they are just lucky last time against NorthPort but this time against a crowd favorite team, they need a dominant import which for now they don't have. Holland is adjusting to the game while Wells got problem on some of the SMB players, they need to pick who they gonna play come playoff time and hope Slaughter will not play as he is nursing an injury.

SMB's journey to the grand slam is not looking good as of now.

It's too early to say that smb's journey for grandslam is not looking good. No matter what position they are in this coming playoffs, they will still be a formidable opponent for everyone.

[bisdak40]

I think they have a very difficult journey this conference, they might rank in the number 5 spot and they will play against the Ginebra SMB where they need to beat them twice, it's like a conference finals if they will face in that bracket.

SMB will rank no.5 in the standings whatever happens on their remaining games, a SMB vs Ginebra match in the playoff is unavoidable this time. SMB is very vulnerable in the playoffs, they are just lucky last time against NorthPort but this time against a crowd favorite team, they need a dominant import which for now they don't have. Holland is adjusting to the game while Wells got problem on some of the SMB players, they need to pick who they gonna play come playoff time and hope Slaughter will not play as he is nursing an injury.

SMB's journey to the grand slam is not looking good as of now.

It's too early to say that smb's journey for grandslam is not looking good. No matter what position they are in this coming playoffs, they will still be a formidable opponent for everyone.

By mere looking at the standings, we could easily say that SMB is not in a good position right now. Having a twice to beat disadvantage against a team where they always having a hard time defeating (Ginebra) is a tough hill climb and for me this is like a championship game for SMB. If they could overcome this hurdle, SMB will be the Governor's Cup champion and a grand slam winner, that's my fearless prediction.