Opening day of the PBA. First let's discuss the Phillipine Cup format. The teams are divided into 2 groups.
Group A
Air21 Express
Meralco Bolts
Petron Blaze Boosters
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings
San Mig Coffee Mixers
Group B
Alaska Aces
Barako Bull Energy Cola
Globalport Batang Pier
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters
ELIMINATION ROUND:
Teams from each group will face teams in the other group twice and teams within their group once for a total of 14 games for the elimination round.
PLAYOFFS:
The top 8 teams regardless of group will advance to the quarter finals; while the bottom 2 teams are out of the competition.
The top 2 teams get a twice to beat advantage; wherein No. 1 will face No. 8 (QF1) and No. 2 will slug it out with No. 7 (QF2).
Teams seeded 3-6 will have a best of 3 showdown; wherein No. 3 will meet No. 6 (QF3) while No. 4 will battle with No. 5 (QF4).
Winning team in QF1 will meet the winner of QF4 (SF1) and the qualifying team in QF2 will meet the winner of QF3 (SF2) in a best of 7 semifinal series.
Winners of both semifinal series will face each other in a best of 7 series for the right to be crowned Philippine Cup Champions.