Target: 1-0 head start

MANILA, Philippines — After 107 days of group play and stop-and-go action, it’s quarterfinals time in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup.

It’s that pivotal stage where eight teams that have worked so hard since the opener in July to make it to this point must dial it up several notches more to advance their title aspirations.

And the Final 8 features an interesting mix.

Defending champion TNT, the fourth-ranked squad of Group A, and Magnolia, the topnotcher of Group B, are up for an explosive showdown of heavyweights.

Ditto reigning Philippine Cup titlist San Miguel Beer, the Group A No. 2, and current Commissioner’s Cup kingpin Barangay Ginebra, the Group B No. 3.

On the other side of the quarter final draw are Group A No. 1 NLEX against Group B No. 4 Phoenix and Group B No. 2 Rain or Shine versus Group A No. 3 Converge. The Road Warriors, Fuel Masters and FiberXers are in pursuit of their first finals appearance and title while the Elasto Painters are out to make the championship series again after more than a decade.

Unlike in the two previous conferences, these quarterfinals will be best-of-five affairs. No twice-to-beat advantages for the higher ranks, no twice-to-win disadvantages for the lower seeds. Everyone stands on the same starting line.

And so expect the combatants to go all out for first blood when the playoffs get going beginning today at Ynares Center Antipolo.

First up are NLEX and Phoenix, which dispute a 1-0 running start at 5:15 p.m. Magnolia and TNT seek the same in their 7:30 p.m. tiff.

“Katulad ng sinasabi ko sa mga players ang pinakamahirap tawirin is the quarters, whether you have advantage or disadvantage, whether it’s a best-of-three, best-of-five,  it’s the hardest part,” said Hotshots coach LA Tenorio, whose charges got the Rondae Hollis-Jefferson-led Tropang 5G as opponent as “price for being No. 1 in their group.”