NLEX and San Miguel will look to strengthen their respective bids for the top spot in Group A when they take on also-ran teams as the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup action continues Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Road Warriors currently sit atop the group with an 8-2 record, but the Beermen are close behind at 7-3. Their respective assignments could prove crucial heading into their highly anticipated showdown on October 21.
If both teams take care of business, their rematch at the Ynares Center in Antipolo could determine the No. 1 seed in Group A.
San Miguel will open Wednesday’s doubleheader against Terrafirma at 5:15 p.m., looking to bounce back after suffering a lopsided loss to TNT last Saturday.
The Beermen will face a Dyip squad that is playing for pride after its playoff hopes were officially extinguished when Converge defeated Titan Ultra last Sunday, completing the list of four teams advancing to the quarterfinals from their group.
The FiberXers will join the Road Warriors, San Miguel, and defending champions TNT Tropang 5G in the final eight, with the quarterfinals projected to begin on October 25.
San Miguel’s disappointing defeat was so frustrating that head coach Leo Austria respectfully declined to speak to the press after the game. That makes the task even more daunting for Terrafirma, which must contend with a Beermen squad eager to deliver an immediate response.
According to Casino Plus sportsbook, San Miguel is a heavy 14.5-point favorite, with the over/under set at 221 points.
(C) PBA Images
NLEX will then take the floor at 7:30 p.m. under head coach Jimmy Alapag, facing the Titan Ultra Giant Risers, who are hoping to establish a more defined identity following the appointment of their third head coach in 12 months.
It will be interesting to see how Titan Ultra fares against a Road Warriors side coming off a record-setting 138-78 demolition of Macau last week. According to PBA statistics chief Fidel Mangonon III, the 60-point rout is the most lopsided victory in league history.
New NLEX import Deonte Burton made an immediate impression in that game, tallying 22 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists, six steals, and two blocks in just 24 minutes of action.
With Burton showcasing his all-around brilliance, Tirrell Brown and the Giant Risers face a daunting challenge in containing the former NBA player, who came close to recording a historic quadruple-double in his NLEX debut.
