In the world of legal Philippine casinos – and legal online Philippine casinos – there hasn’t been too much in the way of news since we last reported on the state of the industry in the islands.
Naturally, that intriguing storyline is still playing out, and it probably will for some time.
The only real news of import for gamblers in the Philippines has been that – after more than two years – the PBA is finally getting back to its regular schedule.
While the league isn’t all the way back to where it was pre-COVID, the 2022 Philippine Cup is already underway, and there are betting lines posted at all the top legal online sportsbooks serving the region.
Of course, you can only bet on PBA odds at offshore sports betting sites in the Philippines, as MegaSportsWorld – the country’s sole domestic sportsbook operator – is not authorized to offer action on Philippine teams and in-country sporting events.
The current standings for the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup – which got underway on June 5 – are as follows:
- NorthPort Batang Pier 2-0
- San Miguel Beermen 2-0
- Meralco Bolts 1-0
- Barangay Ginebra San Miguel 1-0
- TNT Tropang Giga 2-1
- Blackwater Bossing 1-1
- NLEX Road Warriors 1-1
- Rain or Shine Elasto Painters 1-1
- Converge FiberXers 1-2
- Magnolia Hotshots 0-2
- Terrfirma Dyip 0-2
- Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters 0-2
You’ll notice a new team name up there in the current 2022 Philippine Cup standings. The Converge FiberXers are a new franchise in the PBA this year, with Converge ICT having acquired the Alaska Aces on March 23 of this year.
As with most sports, the team may be “new,” but given that it’s a replacement of a previous franchise, its career statistics will likely remain intact – even if there’s an asterisk or two – in the PBA record books.
Of course, in recent years, the Aces were one of the perennial “losers” in the PBA, so the club is hoping that its rebrand will bring with it a real change of fortunes.
So far, of course, they’re at the bottom of the standings as usual, just out of quarterfinal contention. But there are still eight games to go in the elimination round for the FiberXers, so only time will tell.
In the meantime, as you can see, most of the usual suspects are about where you’d expect them to be.
For reference, here’s how the teams above finished the 2021 Philippine Cup elimination round:
- TNT Tropang Giga* 10-1
- Meralco Bolts† 9-2
- Magnolia Hotshots 8-3
- San Miguel Beermen 7-4
- NorthPort Batang Pier 6-5
- Rain or Shine Elasto Painters 6-5
- NLEX Road Warriors 5-6
- Barangay Ginebra San Miguel 4-7
- Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters 4-7
- Terrafirma Dyip 4-7
- Alaska Aces (Converge FiberXers) 3-8
- Blackwater Bossing 0-11
*2021 Philippine Cup Champion
†2021 Philippine Cup Runner up
For the PBA games scheduled for Wednesday, June 15, these are the odds (via BetOnline Casino & Sportsbook):
NorthPort Batang Pier at Magnolia Hotshots
- Spread: NorthPort -1
- Straight: Northport -105, Hotshots -115
- Total:5 (-110)
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
- Spread: San Miguel -6
- Straight: Elasto Painters +212, San Miguel -252
- Total:5 (-110)
Oh yeah, Game 6 of the 2022 NBA Finals is also coming up.
The Warriors just beat the Celtics in Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead, so all the odds now favor the dynasty to win another title.
The betting lines are accordingly unprofitable if you’re hot on Golden State, but Boston fans are staring down the barrel of a pretty decent payout if Tatum and Co. can come up with the W against the Dubs.
And series prices for the Celtics are even better now should the team force and win Game 7.
Here’s hoping.