Identify 4 teams to playoffs ABL Invitational 2023: Saigon Heat and 3 predestined opponents
Closing the series on February 16, ABL Invitational 2023 has identified all 4 names to enter the Playoffs. Besides Saigon Heat and NS Matrix Malaysia closing tickets early, the tournament has found two remaining names, Hong Kong Eastern and Singapore Slingers.
Below is the ABL season 11 standings before the final series of Regular Season (February 17), Saigon Heat topped the table with a record of 10 wins in 13 matches:
It is a coincidence that all three teams entering the Playoffs with Saigon Heat have once defeated the representative of Vietnam. The Heat have only lost 3 matches so far, all three coming from Hong Kong Eastern, Singapore Slingers in stage 2 and NS Matrix at the end of stage 3.
It should also be noted that coach Matt Van Pelt's teachers and students successfully "revenge" two teams, Slingers and Eastern. As for NS Matrix, Saigon Heat won the first meeting in Singapore and then lost the second match at the opponent's home ground.
Although the Playoffs have been fixed for 4 teams including Saigon Heat, NS Matrix, Hong Kong Eastern and Singapore Slingers, the rankings of the teams can still change.
On February 17, there will be two final matches of the ABL Invitational 2023 qualifiers, Bangkok Tigers against Hong Kong Eastern and then Saigon Heat against Louvre Indonesia.
If winning against the penultimate team Louvre Indonesia tonight (February 17), Saigon Heat will top the rankings with a record of 11-3. At that time, the opponent of coach Matt Van Pelt's team at the Playoffs will be the Singapore Slingers (match 1-4).
In the case of losing to Louvre, Heat will fall to second place due to having the same record as NS Matrix Malaysia but poor head-to-head stats. At this time, the Vietnamese representative will meet Hong Kong Eastern (match 2-3).
The format of the Playoffs will be best-of-3. Four teams will be divided into two pairs, 1st place vs 4th, 2nd vs 3rd. Each pair will have a maximum of 3 matches, the team that wins 2 first will advance to the final series.
Currently, the organizers of ABL Invitational 2023 have not yet finalized the location and time of this season's Playoffs. Initial information indicates that the final stage will be held in early March.
