The playoff picture is set and thrilling matchups are in the offing for the quarterfinals of the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup which immediately fires off on Wednesday, Sept. 25.

With the mad dash to the Top 4 of their respective groups finally over and done, teams are now set to face their counterparts from the other groups for the first time this conference and adding a new flavor to the quarterfinals which now will also be played in a best-of-five affair.

From a battle between sister teams to another chapter of once a storied trilogy between resident imports, the first round of the playoffs are certainly not lacking in intriguing history and enthralling storylines.

Sibling Rivalry

After hustling for the fourth and the last spot to the playoffs in Group B, NLEX has found itself in a collision course with sister team and Group A top seed TNT in the quarterfinals.

It’s been a contrasting conference for both of the two teams so far with the Tropang Giga seemingly sailing smoothly to the top spot of their group while the Road Warriors have to overcome some turbulent waters on their way to the last 8.

Relationships, however, will surely be put aside when they begin their series on Wednesday. TNT, with reigning best import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson aiming to protect his crown against the challenge of the prolific duo of import DeQuan Jones and Robert Bolick for NLEX.

Young guns vs old hands

Group B second seed San Miguel versus Group A third seed Converge. The old hand against the young guns. The veterans opposed the budding ones.

The playoffs is the Beermen’s familiar playground and they are about to be challenged by the FiberXers daring to prove their mettle on the bigger stage. 

Of course, SMB has the talent and experience, being the perennial contenders with a crew led by June Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Ross, Terrence Romeo and CJ Perez.

But Converge has the hunger and grit with young players in the likes of Justin Arana, Alec Stockton and Schonny Winston all craving for the chance to prove their worth in the league.

The FiberXers, for one, are heading into the playoffs as the hottest team with a four-game winning streak while the Beermen ended sloppily with a two-game slide.

Durham-Brownlee IV

As if the basketball Gods were smiling while drafting the PBA playoff picture, two familiar faces and two rival teams found their paths to glory crossing over once again. It’s the fourth installment of the Barangay Ginebra and Meralco duel with resident imports Justin Brownlee and Allen Durham starring for their teams.

Of course, the quarterfinals is a lesser and smaller stage to their previous meetings in the Governors’ Cup finals but the excitement that surrounds the rivalry between them is surely not failing to build up.

A lot has changed since their last meeting though with Meralco now a legitimate champion team with Chris Newsome, Chris Banchero, Cliff Hodge and Raymond Almazan – the core of the PH Cup title team – bannering the team.

Ginebra, meanwhile, has undergone some major retooling with the addition of Stephen Holt and RJ Abarrientos but the same faces that haunted the Bolts in their finals meetings remain with the crew with Scottie Thompson and Japeth Aguilar out to lead the charge.

Offense vs defense

It is Rain or Shine’s fast-paced run-and-gun offense against Magnolia's defensive and grind-out game.

There’s no better matchup that can typify the contrast between an offensive and a defensive team than the showdown between the Elasto Painters and the Hotshots. For the longest time, Magnolia, under Chito Victolero, has been known to be a tough, defensive team while Rain or Shine, under Yeng Guiao, thrives on its up tempo game and accurate outside sniping.

It is set to be an interesting chess match between the two squads with their pieces also contrasting in many ways.

The depth of ROS would be its biggest weapons with almost everyone capable of contributing to import Aaron Fuller while controlling the pace behind its hard-nosed defenders in Calvin Abueva, Mark Barroca, Rome Dela Rosa and even Zav Lucero would be key for Magnolia