PBA Playoffs Prediction: Ginebra, can they pull the UPSET?

  

The playoffs are almost here. So, let me provide my prediction for each series. For each series, I will provide the three X-Factors.

SAN MIGUEL-NORTHPORT
Inside scoring
Junemar Fajardo
Assists

This is the series that I am most excited about. Greg Slaughter and Junemar Fajardo will meet once again in a playoffs series. But the roles are now reversed. Slaughter is now the more dominant player as Fajardo is still not healthy.

San Miguel and Northport are the top scoring teams this season. Even though they have several giants on their team, both are actually playing at a fast pace. Impressively, they are also the top 2 in terms of scoring inside. So, look out for this to be a crucial point of the defense of both teams.

San Miguel is #3 in terms of assists and Northport has the #1 guy in terms of assists per game. The team that will control this stat will have a big advantage.

PREDICTION
This is a hard one for me because of the possibility that Northport will activate their farm team mode. If they do not do it, I can actually see Northport, surviving San Miguel because I still cannot trust the health of Fajardo.

I also think that the rim protection of Northport could be more sustainable because they have more hardworking defenders on the perimeter.

So, I am going with Northport.

TNT TROPANG GIGA-BRGY. GINEBRA SAN MIGUEL
Assists
Inside scoring
Troy Rosario

Where do you think is TNT dominating the league right now? It is actually on the defensive end and not on the offensive end. TNT just had a hell of a defensive season, as they lead the league in terms of paint scoring and three-point scoring of opponents.

While Ginebra is currently #3 in terms of scoring in the paint. It means that it is crucial for Ginebra to show that they are capable of scoring inside.

Passing has been the bread and butter of the offense of Ginebra. But not for this tournament. Even TNT is not reliant that much on passing. So, which one will succeed more without it?

Stanley Pringle will handle Mikey Williams. Standhardinger will handle Poy Erram. The problem of Ginebra now is, who can go toe-to-toe with the athletic Troy Rosario?

PREDICTION
The twice-to-beat advantage of TNT is a big reason why I am choosing them for this match-up. I do not think Ginebra will be able to solve the problem that Troy will bring to them for back-to-back games and TNT is actually not yet at the peak of their offense.