Magnolia needs win vs Meralco to secure playoff spot

Magnolia needs a victory against Meralco in the 5 p.m. game at PhilSports Arena on Friday to secure a playoff spot and avoid missing it for the first time since the 2016 Governors' Cup.

Meralco, despite already securing a quarterfinals berth, is reeling from their loss to Barangay Ginebra on Wednesday and faces Magnolia as they aim to enter the playoffs with another win.

The outcome of this game will determine if Magnolia or NLEX secures the eighth playoff seed based on their performance in the final eliminations match, impacting the overall playoff standings.

At 7:30 p.m., TNT will play Rain or Shine, which also influences the playoff standings as it determines whether Rain or Shine advances to seventh place and forces a sudden death scenario for the last quarterfinal spot between Magnolia and NLEX.

Meralco coach Luigi Trillo emphasized that his team is focused on being ready for the playoffs but acknowledges the challenge of facing a physical Magnolia squad.