Phoenix will look to repeat against Blackwater as they figure in a rematch in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup later at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The two will open the double-header offering at 5:15 p.m., with the Fuel Masters hoping to go back-to-back against the very same team they beat the last time out by way of a 103-92 decision just last week at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
That result enabled the charges of Coach Charles Tiu to bounce back from the 105-98 defeat they suffered at the hands of Rain or Shine, but more importantly kept them on top of what’s been a competitive Group B with a 4-1 record.
Needless to say, they’d want to stay where they are, and that’s by beating the Bossing again, although they know that it won’t be easy this time.
Coach Pat Aquino & Co. are becoming a desperate bunch. That loss to Phoenix was actually their third in a row—that, after a promising 2-0 start.
Prior to the Fuel Masters, they bowed to Meralco and Barangay Ginebra, with the loss to the latter the hardest to fathom as they were blown out, 115-85.
So now, it’s going to be intriguing to see if Blackwater will be able to find ways to snap out of this nightmare of a stretch before it gets way too late.
According to Casino Plus sportsbook, the Bossing are a +3.5 underdog heading into the contest, with the over/under set at 199.5.
Bets can be placed here: https://www.casinoplus.com.ph/home/inGame?name=basketball&title=SportBet.
(C) PBA Images
Scheduled for the 7:30 p.m. game is another meeting between San Miguel and Converge, a duel between teams hoping to get back on track in Group A.
As far as the head-to-head is concerned, the Beermen have the advantage, having beaten the FiberXers, 128-122, in their first-round matchup.
And that loss proved to be more painful for Coach Delta Pineda and his wards, because that started the three-game losing skid they’re in right now.
However, SMB has looked shaky as well. After opening the tournament with three straight wins, it has dropped two of its last three games.
The Beermen fell to Jimmy Alapag’s NLEX, bounced back with a dominant 38-point rout of Titan Ultra, then suffered an overtime loss to rivals TNT.
How both the traditional contenders and the youth-laden squad regain their footing heading into the second round will be one of the tournament’s most intriguing storylines.
San Miguel is a -4.0 favorite, according to Casino Plus sportsbook. The total over/under for points is set at 232.5.
