PBA Governors’ Cup 2020 – Who has the best odds to win it?

PBA Governor’s Cup is one of the most exciting basketball competitions in the Philippines as it is one of the two conferences in the country that allows teams to bring in foreign players, also known as imports. While the height limit for imports is set at 6’5″, this still means that foreign stars can add to the spectacle and make the tournament even more appealing to the viewers.

The 2020 season of the Governor’s Cup is still on hold due to the coronavirus related lockdown and there is no schedule set for the restart of the competition this year. However, sooner or later the tournament will be happening, so we wanted to take a look at what kind of odds different teams have to win it and what you can expect from it.

The sports betting odds for the upcoming PBA Governor’s Cup have not yet been announced since the tournament is still not on the books, but it is expected that major online bookmakers will launch betting options soon. For more information about the legal sports betting websites in the Philippines visit bestcasinosites.net and place your wagers at best possible odds.

What happened last season?

Held between September 2019 and January 2020, the 2019 edition of the PBA Governor’s Cup saw Barangay Ginebra San Miguel take the Cup home ahead of the Meralco Bolts. This was the third time in just four years that the San Miguel squad took the Cup home and their 12th PBA title, which kept them in the driver’s seat when it comes to the popularity and quality of the Filipino basketball.

When all was said and done, it was the champion’s own Japeth Aguilar who was announced as the finals MVP, while the overall MVP of the season was Christian Standhardinger of the NorthPort Batang Pier, who lost to the champions in the semi-finals.

The final tie between Barangay Ginebra and Meralco Bolts was quite one sided, with the champions taking the Cup in just 5 games, losing only the second leg of the tie. Overall speaking, the champions cruised to the title following a minor slip up in the initial phase of the tournament, which makes them the likely favorites for the upcoming season as well.

However, the Barangay outfit is not the only one with an eye on the Cup, as the three time runners up Meralco Bolts will be looking for payback for the three finals defeats they have suffered in recent years. With other teams looking for their place at the top and the coronavirus lockdown affecting all clubs differently, the battle ahead is likely to be an unpredictable one.

Reigning champions set for a repeat?

2019 PBA Governors' Cup Champions Barangay Ginebra (PBA Images)
2019 PBA Governors’ Cup Champions Barangay Ginebra (PBA Images)

Barangay Ginebra is a Filipino basketball team owned by Ginebra San Miguel, Inc and is easily the most popular team in the PBA. The twelve time PBA champions are one of the three basketball teams owned by this corporation, which puts them in an ideal spot to reign supreme over the domestic basketball scene.

Looking at the upcoming PBA Governor’s Cup, the Barangay Ginebra certainly stand tall as the number one favorites to take home the title once again. They have won the tournament three times over the last four years and are looking stronger than ever. Their road to the Cup last season seemed like a breeze and it does not appear that anyone can stand in their way unless one of the closest competitors can really take their game to the next level and step up to the plate.

Meralco Bolts to finally step up?

Meralco Bolts have only appeared under the current franchise since the 2010 season and have since done well in the PBA Governor’s Cup. Despite their solid performances in the recent years, the Bolts have not been able to capitalize by winning the Cup and have instead come second to Barangay Ginebra on three occasions.

Meralco Bolts’ experience in playing the finals games against the reigning champions is the thing that may tip the scales in their favor should a similar situation arise again. They have been on the verge of the Cup on three occasions and are thirsty for revenge without a doubt.

Like most teams in the Governor’s Cup, Meralco Bolts currently boast several imports, all American players who bring extra attraction the team’s game. The team is coached by American coach Norman Black and the former NBA coach certainly has what it takes to help his team capture the Cup in one of the upcoming years.

Magnolia Hotshots to take the glory?

The winners of a total of fourteen PBA titles and the fourth team ever to win the Grand Slam of Filipino basketball, Magnolia Hotshots were the team to break Barangay Ginebra’s winning streak in the 2018 season. They have won the Cup on several occasions over the past decade under several different names all associated with their owners, the San Miguel Food and Beverage, Inc.

Under the leadership of head coach Chito Victolero, Hotshots certainly have the quality in both domestic and imported talents to fight for the Cup. Their early elimination last season to TNT was somewhat of an anomaly and we can expect them to rise back to the top in the next tournament, especially when we consider their substantial sponsorship from one of the country’s leading corporate giants.

When is the tournament happening?

Unfortunately, the covid-19 pandemic of 2020 has put many things on hold and the PBA conferences fall right into that category. The teams and the fans alike have been patiently waiting for any news on the restart but at this time there is no schedule set whatsoever. In fact, the tournament may be cancelled altogether if the pandemic does not subside in the coming weeks, so all options are still on the table.