As intense as the scorching summer heat is expected in the race to the playoffs as teams scramble for every bit of advantage they can get once the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup enters its final stretch this week.

Outside San Miguel Beer, which has been playing like it is on a league of its own, and Barangay Ginebra, largely behind the wits of head coach Tim Cone, it has been an open race for the remaining six spots with seven teams crowding each other in the middle of the pack.

As it stands, only the Beermen are assured of their spot in the playoffs – regardless of the result of their remaining games, they will remain in the top seed, armed with a twice-to-beat advantage – after hiking their record to 9-0.

The Kings are also assured of the playoff spot after running second with a 7-3 slate. They also have the inside track of the twice-to-beat advantage although some teams below them can still make a late streak and dislodge them from their spot.

The third to ninth spots are where things start to get tricky as all of the seven teams are boasting five victories each. 

NLEX, TNT, and Magnolia are in a deadlock for the third spot with similar 5-4 records. Half a game behind are Rain or Shine, Meralco and Terrafirma with even 5-5 slates. 

Outside looking in is NorthPort which already ended its campaign at 5-6 but is a curious spectator on how the rest of the schedule would pan out especially since that would also dictate the Batang Pier’s playoff fate.

Even Blackwater which is sitting on the 10th spot with a 3-6 slate can still reach five wins and give itself a shot of at least a playoff for the No.8 spot

Such a tight race in the standings where nine teams have at least five wins is actually seen for the first time in the last five conferences according to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III – a testament on how competitive the All-Filipino conference has been so far.

That being said, the magic number of wins to secure a spot to the quarterfinals is six wins – giving teams in the middle of the pack with two games left some slight advantage.

NLEX has two chances against Rain or Shine, another team seeking its sixth win, and Ginebra, a team that, on the other hand, is aiming for the twice-to-beat edge. TNT has a relatively easier schedule with also-ran Converge as its next assignment before taking on Magnolia in a crucial match. 

The Hotshots, before wrapping up their schedule against the Tropang Giga, can try to pick up the sixth win against the Terrafirma Dyip – another team looking to do the same to assure itself a playoff spot.

Meralco still has a game left to pick up the sixth win as well but it has to do it against the still undefeated San Miguel.

It remains to be seen how the outcome of the games in the final week would affect the final look of the playoff picture – for one, the quotient system is certainly playing a factor in determining the last six teams.

One thing is sure though, the final stretch of the playoff race is going to be heated and is up for a wild finish.