- NLEX Road Warriors and Magnolia Hotshots, owners of twice-to-beat advantages, hope to wrap up their semifinals entry on their first try as the 2025 PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals open on Wednesday.
June 18, Wednesday – Philsports Arena
- 5pm – NLEX Road Warriors vs Rain or Shine Elastopainters
- 7:30pm – Magnolia Hotshots vs TNT Tropang 5G
William Navarro (front) is slowly finding his footing in the Magno- lia rotation. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ
TNT’s bid for a Grand Slam boils down to one game, when the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals tips off on Wednesday in a doubleheader that could resolve even more storylines at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Magnolia owns the first shot at stopping TNT’s chase of the triple crown when the two teams collide at 7:30 p.m.—and even if the Tropang 5G survive that duel, the Hotshots will gain yet another crack at ousting their foes because of their twice-to-beat bonus.
“We have to face whatever’s in front of us,” said TNT star Calvin Oftana, talking about the long trek his team now has to take to accomplish that rare feat of sweeping all three PBA crowns in a season. “At least we’re in the quarterfinals and we still have a chance.”
Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar dunks during a PBA Philippine Cup game against Converge in San Fernando, Pampanga.–PBA IMAGES
The PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals pairings look too close to call—and a little playoff protection might offer very little comfort.
Top seed San Miguel Beer battles No. 8 Meralco, the defending champion it lost to last season. No. 2 NLEX takes on dangerous No. 7 Rain or Shine. No. 3 Magnolia takes on Grand Slam-seeking TNT. And No. 4 Barangay Ginebra tests fired-up No. 5 Converge.
Playoff action begins on Wednesday at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City with the NLEX-Rain or Shine contest at 5 p.m., followed by the Magnolia-TNT tussle at 7:30 p.m. Those pairings were sealed only after the final elimination playdate late Sunday evening.
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