Another chapter of the Manila Clasico is set to unfold as longtime rivals Barangay Ginebra and Magnolia square off for the first time in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup later tonight at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., with both teams looking to build momentum entering the second half of their campaign in the highly competitive Group B after struggling to find their rhythm in the conference.
The Kings are coming off an 84-75 victory over Meralco last Friday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, but it was only their second win in four games as they continue to play without Scottie Thompson and Justin Brownlee.
The Hotshots, meanwhile, dropped to 1-3 after suffering a heartbreaking 98-97 loss to Rain or Shine last Friday, courtesy of Adrian Nocum’s late-game heroics.
As of 4 p.m., Ginebra is a 4.0-point favorite over Magnolia, according to Casino Plus Sportsbook, while the over/under is set at 192.0.
Bets can be placed here: https://www.casinoplus.com.ph/home/inGame?name=basketball&title=SportBet.
Despite Ginebra’s gritty win over the Bolts, head coach Tim Cone remains wary of Magnolia, believing counterpart LA Tenorio and the Hotshots will eventually find their footing.
“Hopefully, they figure it out after we play them on Sunday,” joked the champion mentor.
“They have a good team, and he’s a good coach. And they’re gonna figure it out before long. And if they do, watch out. They can go on a tough run.”
The last time the two teams met was during the Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup eliminations on April 10, when the Kings escaped with a 91-89 victory behind a clutch layup by RJ Abarrientos off a Scottie Thompson inbound pass with 6.3 seconds remaining.
(C) PBA Images
In the 5:15 p.m. opener, the streaking Rain or Shine Elasto Painters take on the Meralco Bolts in what promises to be another battle between two gritty, fast-paced teams.
Rain or Shine enters the matchup as a 4.0-point favorite, according to Casino Plus Sportsbook, with the over/under set at 215.5.
The Elasto Painters come into the game riding a three-game winning streak after opening the conference with back-to-back losses.
During that run, coach Yeng Guiao and his squad have beaten both Ginebra and Magnolia, making them the favorites against the MVP-owned Bolts.
Still, Rain or Shine is refusing to get ahead of itself as it faces a Meralco side desperate to get back on track. After winning two straight games, the Bolts have dropped their last two outings—first to Ginebra, then to Magnolia.
Instead of challenging for the top spot in Group B, Meralco has slipped to fourth place with a 2-3 record, putting pressure on the coaching staff to make adjustments.
At the top of that list is finding players who can step up amid a rash of injuries and illnesses. In their loss to Magnolia, the Bolts were without CJ Cansino (hip), Bong Quinto (vertigo), Jason Brickman (flu), and Raymond Almazan (back).
