After five weeks, four teams are assured of their spot in the playoffs bracket at the ongoing 2023 PBA Governors' Cup.
The TNT Tropang Giga, San Miguel Beermen, NLEX Road Warriors, and Converge FiberXers are already assured of playing at least in the quarterfinals as they continue their winning ways in the tournament.
The TNT Tropang Giga still holds the top spot in the leaderboard with an 8-1 win-loss record, followed by the San Miguel Beermen with a 7-2 card.
Tied at the third and fourth spot are the NLEX Road Warriors and the Converge FiberXers, which both have a 6-3 win-loss standing.
The defending champions Barangay Ginebra San Miguel comfortably stands in fifth place with a 4-2 record, followed by the Meralco Bolts with a 5-3 card.
In seventh place is the Magnolia Hotshots with a 4-4 win-loss standing, followed by the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters in eighth place with a 3-5 record.
The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, NorthPort Batang Pier, and Terrafirma Dyip are still running for playoffs contention with equal 2-6 standing.
At the bottom of the board is the Blackwater Bossing, who is already eliminated, with a 1-9 win-loss record.
Here's the recap of the fifth week of the ongoing 2023 PBA Governors' Cup.
PBA Recap: NorthPort Batang Pier vs. TerraFirma Dyip
After their six-game losing streak, the NorthPort Batang Pier finally found their way to the winning column as they defeated the TerraFirma Dyip, 115-100, on Wednesday, February 22.
NorthPort Batang Pier import Kevin Murphy almost had a double-double performance with 28 points and nine rebounds, while Robert Bolick finally found his rhythm off the bench with 26 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.
John Michael Calma added 18 points and nine rebounds, while Joshua Munzon contributed 17 points.
For the TerraFirma Dyip, import Jordan Williams was limited to 25 points and six rebounds, while Juami Tiongson added 18 points.
Eric Camson had a double-double performance in a losing effort with 12 points and 13 rebounds, while John Paul Calvo contributed 12 points off the bench.
PBA Recap: Rain or Shine Elasto Painters vs. Magnolia Chicken Timplado Hotshots
The Magnolia Chicken Timplado Hotshots continued their win streak as they defeated the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 112-97, on Wednesday, February 22.
The Magnolia Chicken Timplado Hotshots locals took the mantle as Paul Lee, Jio Jalalon, and team captain Andy Marc Barroca scored 19 points apiece to lead their team. Paul Lee also had five assists, while Jio Jalalon recorded eight rebounds.
The three locals had help from Magnolia Chicken Timplado Hotshots import Anthony Hester, who had a double-double performance with 17 points and 15 rebounds.
Russel Escoto was the spark off Magnolia Chicken Timplado Hotshots’ bench with 10 points and eight rebounds in 14 minutes of action.
For the side of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, import Gregory Smith was limited to just 15 points, four rebounds, and one assist, a subpar performance from his average of 38 points, six rebounds, and five assists.
Leonard Santillan was the spark off the bench with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Nick Demusis added 11 points and six rebounds.
PBA Recap: Meralco Bolts vs NLEX Road Warriors
The Meralco Bolts snapped their two-game win streak at the expense of the NLEX Road Warriors, 114-98, on Thursday, February 23.
Meralco Bolts import KJ McDaniels had a big night with a double-double performance of 31 points, 21 rebounds, and four assists to lead his team to its fourth win, while Allen Maliksi proved to be the spark of the Meralco Bolts' bench with 19 points and six rebounds.
Chris Newsome recorded 18 points, five rebounds, and eight assists, while Norman Aaron Black contributed 15 points.
For the NLEX Road Warriors, import Wayne Anthony Selden was limited to 29 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, while Celedonio Trollano added 19 points and six rebounds.
Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser scored 16 points, while team captain Kevin Alas added 13 points off the bench.
PBA Recap: Converge FiberXers vs. Blackwater Bossing
The Converge FiberXers officially eliminated the Blackwater Bossing from the playoffs, 98-90, on Thursday, February 23.
Maverick Ahanmisi played his best game this conference with 31 points off the bench, while Converge FiberXers import Jamaal Franklin had another double-double performance with 19 points and 15 rebounds.
Team captain Jeron Teng contributed 17 points and six rebounds, while Alec Stockton added 10 points.
For the side of the Blackwater Bossing, Jeth Troy Rosario led the team with 20 points in a losing effort as import Shawn Glover was limited to a double-double performance of 19 points and 10 rebounds to go alongside five assists.
RK Ilagan also contributed 12 points off the bench.
PBA Recap: NorthPort Batang Pier vs. Blackwater Bossing
The NorthPort Batang Pier recorded their back-to-back wins as they defeated the Blackwater Bossing, 110-104, on Saturday, February 25.
NorthPort Batang Pier import Kevin Murphy erupted for a double-double performance of 47 points and 16 rebounds, while Robert Bolick provided much-needed support with 24 points, seven rebounds, and six assists off the bench.
John Michael Calma contributed 10 points and five rebounds, while Arvin Tolentino, Paul Christian Zamar, and Roi Sumang added 21 points.
For the side of the Blackwater Bossing, import Shawn Glover almost had a double-double performance with 20 points and nine rebounds, while Gab Banal had 19 points off the bench.
Team captain Jvee Casio contributed 14 points, while Myke Ayonayon contributed 12 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
PBA Recap: NLEX Road Warriors vs. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
After losing against the Meralco Bolts, the NLEX Road Warriors quickly bounced back as they defeated the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 110-99, on Saturday, February 25.
Team captain Kevin Alas had another spectacular night with 28 points off the bench as NLEX Road Warriors import Wayne Anthony Selden, Jr. was limited to a double-double performance of 21 points and 10 rebounds.
Celedonio Trollano almost had a double-double with 20 points and eight rebounds, while Michael Miranda, Kris Rosales, and Clint Doligues contributed eight points apiece.
For the side of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, Rey Nambatac proved that he's the spark off their bench with 26 points, while team captain Gabe Norwood added 13 points and eight rebounds.
Leonard Santillan contributed 10 points, five rebounds, and six assists, while Shaun Ildefonso and Mark Anthony Borboran scored seven points apiece.
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters import Gregory Smith was limited to three points and three rebounds. In the first half of the match, Gregory Smith pulled a hamstring, and the coaching staff deemed it best to sit him out of the entire game to no longer aggravate the injury.
The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters is set to find a replacement for Gregory Smith, who averaged 26.5 points, five rebounds, and three assists in his four games with the team.
PBA Recap: Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters vs. Converge FiberXers
The Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters continued winning as they defeated the Converge FiberXers, 106-103, on Sunday, February 26.
Encho Serrano was the spark of the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters' bench with 28 points, while import Du’vaughn Maxwell contributed a double-double performance of 19 points and 15 rebounds.
Jason Perkins and Tyler Tio provided much-needed help with 16 points apiece as the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters recorded their third win in eight games.
For the side of the Converge FiberXers, Jamaal Franklin was the lone bright spot with a double-double performance of 30 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists, while Justin Arana also had a double-double performance of 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Team captains Jeron Teng, Alec Stockton, Jerrick Balanza, and Kevin Racal contributed with 11 points apiece, while Maverick Ahanmisi added 10 points and eight rebounds.
PBA Recap: Magnolia Chicken Timplado Hotshots vs. Meralco Bolts
The Meralco Bolts barely escaped the Magnolia Chicken Timplado Hotshots, 86-84, on Sunday, February 26.
With six seconds remaining, the Magnolia Chicken Timplado Hotshots called for a full timeout as they were behind by two, 84-86. Paul Lee had a chance to extend the game into overtime, but his two-point jump shot missed.
Meralco Bolts import KJ McDaniels had another double-double performance with 19 points and 15 rebounds, while Chris Newsome contributed 16 points.
Norman Aaron Black recorded 13 points and six rebounds, while Keir John Quinto contributed 12 points. Cliff Hodge had eight points and 12 rebounds as he manned the basket.
For the side of the Meralco Bolts, import Antonio Hester also had a double-double performance with 23 points and 15 rebounds, while Paul Lee recorded 18 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
Jio Jalalon added 11 points and five rebounds, while Andy Marc Barroca contributed 11 points off the bench.
Calvin Abueva almost had a double-double performance with 10 points, nine rebounds, and five assists as the Magnolia Chicken Timplado Hotshots absorbed their four loss in eight games.
PBA News 2023