2021 PBA Philippine Cup


The 2021 Philippine Cup, also known as the 2021 Honda PBA Philippine Cup for sponsorship reasons, was the first conference of the 2021 PBA season of the Philippine Basketball Association. The 43rd PBA Philippine Cup started on July 16, 2021, and ended on October 29, 2021. The tournament did not allow teams to hire foreign players or imports.
On August 3, the league announced that it will be suspending their games beginning August 4 after the government declared that Metro Manila will be under Enhanced Community Quarantine from August 6 to 20. The league have appealed to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases if they can continue their tournament in Batangas, which is under a more relaxed quarantine restrictions.
On August 31, the tournament resumed and the games were played Don Honorio Ventura State University Gymnasium in Bacolor, Pampanga.

Format

The following format will be observed for the duration of the conference:
  • Single-round robin eliminations; 11 games per team; Teams are then seeded by basis on win–loss records.
  • Top eight teams will advance to the quarterfinals. In case of tie, playoff games will be held only for the #8 seed.
  • Quarterfinals:
  • *QF1: #1 vs #8
  • *QF2: #2 vs #7
  • *QF3: #3 vs #6
  • *QF4: #4 vs #5
  • Semifinals :
  • *SF1: QF1 Winner vs. QF4 Winner
  • *SF2: QF2 Winner vs. QF3 Winner
  • Finals
  • *F1: SF1 Winner vs SF2 Winner

Elimination round

Postponed games due to COVID-19

July 21: Terrafirma vs. Alaska and TNT vs. MagnoliaJuly 23: Rain or Shine vs. TerrafirmaJuly 24: Meralco vs. TNTJuly 31: Blackwater vs. PhoenixAugust 1: San Miguel vs. Barangay GinebraSeptember 4: Alaska vs. San MiguelSeptember 5: Meralco vs. Barangay Ginebra

Quarterfinals

(1) TNT vs. (8) Barangay Ginebra

TNT has the twice-to-beat advantage; they have to be beaten twice, while their opponents just once, to advance.

(2) Meralco vs (7) NLEX

Meralco has the twice-to-beat advantage; they have to be beaten twice, while their opponents just once, to advance.

(3) Magnolia vs (6) Rain or Shine

This is a best-of-three playoff.

(4) San Miguel vs (5) NorthPort

This is a best-of-three playoff.

Semifinals

All match-ups are best-of-seven playoffs.

Finals

The Finals is a best-of-seven playoff.