PN99 defeated ESOBGA last night in the Gold Division derby, winning 81–72 in the game that opened the 5th round. As a result, the standings in the division have largely taken shape, with the only remaining uncertainty concerning 3rd and 4th place.
Following last night’s win by last season’s champions, ESOBGA have secured 1st place with 12 points, while PN99 are locked into 2nd place with 11 points. Think Colour, currently 3rd with 9 points, will not be able to overtake the reigning champions even if they defeat the Warriors tomorrow, as they trail ESOBGA in the head-to-head tiebreaker.
However, tomorrow’s derby between Think Colour and the Warriors will definitively determine which team finishes 3rd and which 4th. This has double importance, as beyond prestige, the two teams will also choose their opponents both for the play-offs (Famagusta Ballers or P&P) and for the Semifinals, should they advance.
The Famagusta Ballers have mathematically secured 5th place, and P&P 6th, regardless of the outcome of tonight’s game between them, since the two-point gap between them cannot be overturned.
Therefore, based on the above, the play-off matchups will be:
- 3rd vs P&P
- 4th vs Famagusta Ballers
Qualification will be decided by two wins, with the head-to-head result from the Second Phase counting toward the series.
In the Semifinals, 1st-placed ESOBGA will face the winner of the 4th vs 5th matchup, while 2nd-placed PN99 will play the winner of the 3rd vs 6th matchup. These will be single-game semifinals, hosted by ESOBGA and PN99 respectively, at the English School.
