Two quarterfinal seats are at stake as four teams figure in a pair of crucial duels in the heated playoff race in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup at PhilSports Arena on Friday, May 3.

Magnolia locks horns with Terrafirma in the first offering at 4:30 p.m. before Rain or Shine and NLEX tangle at 7:30 p.m. with the victors finally breaking free from a tight middle pack of the standings at the end of the night.

All of the four teams boast five wins, and a triumph in their respective matchups would allow them to hike their victories to six – the magic number of wins that would seal their entry to the playoffs.

The Hotshots and the Road Warriors are tied at the third spot with identical 5-4 records while their respective opponents in the Dyip and the Elasto Painters are just a game behind with similar 5-5 slates.

Of the four, NLEX seemed to have the better position as it is not only looking to book a playoff spot in the contest against ROS but a win can also keep its hunt for a twice-to-beat advantage.

The Road Warriors can improve to a 6-4 slate and just a game behind second running Barangay Ginebra Kings (7-3) who are incidentally their last opponent in the eliminations.

Robert Bolick is expected to rejoin the team after missing the last game against San Miguel after attending to his wife who had just given birth to their first child.

However, it would be easier said than done against a ROS team determined to get back on track after its five-game winning streak got snapped by a loss to Magnolia last time out.

More than that, a loss could also be disastrous for the Elasto Painters as that would push them down to a tie with the NorthPort Batang Pier who sit at the ninth spot with a 5-6 slate. 

Also looking to avoid the similar scenario are the Dyip as they try to pull the rug from under the struggling Hotshots who are on a two-game slide. 

Given how tight the race is, with Meralco (5-5) still up for a match against top seed San Miguel on Saturday and TNT (5-5) still has a game left against Magnolia on Sunday, multiple ties from fifth to eighth spot is not too far of a possibility.

In that event, the quotient would determine the placing of the teams. The eighth and ninth clubs would then be left to battle in a do-or-die match for the last quarters seat.

That’s exactly what Juami Tiongson and Stephen Holt are trying to avoid as they stand at the forefront of the attack for Terrafirma against Magnolia which will be bannered by Mark Barroca, Ian Sangalang and Paul Lee.