Marquee matchups featuring traditional contenders highlight the PBA’s return to the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay later for Season 50 Governors’ Cup action.
Ginebra is making its way back to the venue where it won the Commissioner’s Cup crown last June. The Gin Kings take on Meralco at 7:30 PM, right after Magnolia and the streaking Rain or Shine duke it out at 5:15 PM as Group B teams take the spotlight.
According to the Casino Plus sportsbook, the Hotshots are a +3.5 underdog as of 3:30 PM, while the over/under is set at 215.0.
In the main game, the Gin Kings are a -2.0 favorite over their rivals, the Bolts. The total points over/under is pegged at 197.5.
Bets can be made here: https://www.casinoplus.com.ph/home/inGame?name=basketball&title=SportBet.
Of the four, the Elasto Painters are coming in with the best form. They’re riding a two-game winning streak, with their most recent victory a 110-99 rout of the Kings just last Sunday — that, after the latter blew out Blackwater, 115-85.
(C) PBA Images
The charges of Coach Yeng Guiao will try to make it three in a row against the Hotshots. But they’re facing an opponent trying to build a winning streak of their own after a 112-98 conquest of the Bolts last July 24 — their first win.
Not only did they get their campaign back on track, but the crew also earned some payback against the team that dashed their hopes of reaching the semifinals for the first time since 2023 after eliminating them in the quarterfinals.
Now, they hope to do the same against Rain or Shine, which handed them a 91-82 defeat in their Commissioner’s Cup elimination-round meeting on April 25. In that game, the Elasto Painters rallied from a 70-66 deficit in the final period to secure the victory.
Meanwhile, the twin bill’s main offering features two teams eager to bounce back immediately and build momentum, as both Ginebra and Meralco have endured shaky starts to their campaigns.
The crowd darlings are second to the last in Group B with a 1-2 record after that aforementioned loss to Rain or Shine, in which they failed to sustain their lopsided victory that sent the Bossing skidding about two nights prior.
The Bolts, on the other hand, are toting a 2-2 card after bowing to the Hotshots. The result foiled their bid to win a third consecutive outing — the team had beaten Rain or Shine and Blackwater before tripping versus their rivals.
So later, it will be about which team would be quicker to bounce back, although Ginebra is coming into the battle between former Finals adversaries armed with extra motivation, as their last meeting left a bitter taste in their mouths.
The Kings got blown out, 112-91, in their Commissioner’s Cup duel back on Labor Day, which snapped their fiery five-game winning streak.
