One of the Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) most storied rivalries will author another chapter to its lore: ushering in the league’s 50th season.
This, as Ginebra San Miguel and Magnolia will take on one another to kick off the 2025-26 festivities with the season-opening Philippine Cup this Sunday, October 5, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Game time is set at 7:30 PM, serving as the nightcap of what should be a busy Opening Day as the annual Leo Awards will also take place before that. The league will announce the exact time and location soon.
But more than an opening act, the ‘Clasico’ has been one of the most-awaited clashes for Season 50, given the facelift the Hotshots have undergone during the tail end of last season by bringing in LA Tenorio as their new head coach.
Also included in the team’s injury/reserve list, the 41-year-old will have his baptism of fire against the very same team he played for 13 long years.
The Ginebra-Magnolia tiff will raise the curtains on a long season ahead featuring playdates not only in the provinces but abroad as well.
Dubai will host a clash between the Gin Kings and San Miguel Beer on October 26 at the Coca-Cola Arena in Al Nasr, marking the PBA’s return to the ‘City of Gold’ after six years. Tip-off time is set at 6:00 PM local time.
Games have also been confirmed to be played in Bahrain in December. The Hotshots will take on Rain or Shine on the 15th, before the Elasto Painters face the Barangay on the 17th.
Both matches are set at 6:00 PM, Bahrain time.
Ilocos Sur and Cagayan de Oro City, on the other hand, will host out-of-town games. Converge and TNT will play at the Chavit Coliseum on October 18, while RoS and the Tropang 5G are set to meet at CDO on November 15.
A break from November 17 to December 4 will also take place as the PBA has allocated more prep time for Gilas Pilipinas for Window 1 — and all the succeeding windows — of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.
The Season 50 Philippine Cup eliminations will run from October 5 to December 19. The top eight teams at the end of the said phase will advance to the quarterfinals, with the top four armed with a twice-to-beat incentive.
