All eyes will be on the first-ever clash between nine-time PBA Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo and TNT’s 7-foot-3 import Bol Bol when San Miguel faces TNT tonight at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Both toting 1-1 records, it would be a rematch of the previous two Philippine Cup Finals, with the Beermen, of course, hoping to keep their mastery of the Tropang 5G–just like the outcomes of their championship battles.
According to the Casino Plus sportsbook, the game will almost be a dead heat with the Beermen only being a -2.5 favorite to win. The over/under is set at 204.5.
Bets can be made here: https://www.casinoplus.com.ph/home/inGame?name=basketball&title=SportBet.
It will be interesting to see how Bol’s size and ability will be utilized by Chot Reyes against their tormentors, especially after a 40-point, 15-rebound showing to star in their win against NLEX.
For Fajardo, he knows that it will take a team effort to stop the former NBA pro from South Sudan.
“For sure mahihirapan kami. Pero five-on-five naman ito, hindi naman ito one-on-one,” he said.
“Pero kung matapat sa akin si Bol, gagawin ko yung best ko na ma-stop siya. Hindi ko man siya ma-totally stop, at least ma-limit ko man lang siya.”
But also being awaited by fans is SMB reinforcement Marcus Lee, on how the defensive-minded big man could match up against the former NBA pro.
After a poor debut, Lee tallied 10 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, and three blocks to help the Beermen beat the FiberXers for win no. 1, and some are curious if he’d be able to replicate as much or up the ante higher.
But for sure, he’d be going all out against the defending conference champions, as it could be his final game with San Miguel.
The traditional powerhouse has already come to terms with Justin Patton as its stand-by import.
(C) PBA Images
Before the 7:30 p.m. clash, new faces will be paraded when Magnolia and guest team Macau figure in a duel between teams bent on breaking through.
Game time is set at 5:15 p.m., with much of the focus drawn on the Hotshots, as they’re set to debut new import Clint Chapman in the bout, where they’re the heavy favorites.
Coach LA Tenorio’s charges are favored to come out victorious by at least -4.5 points in the battle between 0-3 teams, with the over/under score total set at 201, according to Casino Plus’ sportsbook.
A development first reported by Tiebreaker Times earlier this week, the 6-foot-10 Chapman was brought in to take the role previously held by Nuni Omot.
It’s going to be the former Texas Longhorn’s maiden PBA stint, and he’ll surely be getting his hands full right in his first game, as he’s tasked to lead a team out of its nightmarish start when they take on a squad with the very same goal.
The Black Knights have been winless thus far, and their hopes of seeing some ray of light rest on former ABL MVP Marcus Elliott, who’s been appointed as the club’s new head coach after Garrett Kelly was relieved of his duties.
It will be the 41-year-old American’s coaching debut, and the first mission he has to accomplish is to steer Macau to its first win in the PBA after absorbing tough losses to Converge, Rain or Shine, and Ginebra.
