Argentina and Japan Bid to join Canada and New Zealand in playoffs
Canada and New Zealand head into the final day of pool play with identical 5-1 records, and are heavy favorites to win their final pool play games.
If that happens, Canada grabs the number one seed, the Black Sox the second spot, since Canada’s only loss came at hands of Japan, while the Black Sox lost to Canada. Canada faces The Nederlands (1-5). while the New Zealand Black Sox will face the winless Phillipines squad tonight in the final pool play game of the tournment,
If Canada were to stumble against the Nederlands, the Black Sox could garner the top spot in the pool with a win in the nightcap against the Phillipines.
Argentina and Japan would seem to have more at stake today.
Argentina (4-2) and Japan (4-2) control their own fate, heading into the final day of pool play with 4-2 records, and can lock up a playoff spot with a win. Argentina will face Columbia (3-3), while Japan takes on Mexico (2-4).
The Argentina vs. Columbia game has big implications for both Argentina AND Japan. A win by Argentina against Columbia would put both Argentina AND Japan into the playoffs.
If Argentina beats Columbia, they’d lock up the third seed, with the fourth spot falling to Japan, regardless of the outcome of the Japan/Mexico game (since Argentina beat Japan in head-to-head play)
Columbia could steal the playoff spot from Argentina, provided that Japan also beat Mexico. If Columbia won, and Japan lost, it would be a three way tie (Argentina/Japan/Columbia at 4-3)
Games today with impact on the race in Pool B
New Zealand time:
51 1.30pm Colombia Vs Argentina
53 4.00pm Netherlands Vs Canada
55 6.30pm Mexico Vs Japan
56 7.30pm New Zealand Vs Philippines
Standings heading into the final day
Pool B
Canada (5-1)*
New Zealand (5-1)
Argentina (4-2)**
Japan (4-2)
Colombia (3-3)
Mexico (2-4)
Netherlands (1-5)
Philippines (0-6)
*Canada beat New Zealand
**Argentina beat Japan
First tie breaker for playoff spots and seeding is head-to-head play.