ANTIPOLO — Magnolia will look to win three in a row when it takes on a shaky Phoenix in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup later at the Ynares Center here.
Both teams are set to play in the 7:30 p.m. main game, with the Hotshots coming in riding a wave of momentum after picking up big victories against Ginebra and Meralco to put together their first winning streak of the conference.
After owning another chapter of their Manila Clasico rivalry with the Kings, the crew followed it up with an 88-73 conquest of the struggling Bolts just last Friday in a game interrupted by a strong roof leak at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The lengthy delay didn’t affect but rather helped Magnolia recalibrate as they pulled away in the fourth quarter behind Jerom Lastimosa, leaving Coach LA Tenorio pleased with how his men responded to the situation.
“Nagtanong na ‘ko kung ano ang mangyayari, ‘yun pala itutuloy yung laro. Honestly, nag-worry ako,” said the former star turned mentor. “But that’s beyond our control. We have to give credit to our players for responding.”
Given their form, they’d surely be a handful to deal with for the Fuel Masters, who have lost twice in their last three games after a 3-0 start.
Their most recent defeat came at the hands of Blackwater, a 106-100 decision exactly seven days ago, which dropped their win-loss record to 4-2 and allowed Rain or Shine to join them on top of the Group B standings.
According to Casino Plus sportsbook, the Hotshots are a -5.5 favorite entering the contest. The over/under is pegged at 193.5.
Bets can be placed here: https://www.casinoplus.com.ph/home/inGame?name=basketball&title=SportBet.
Playing at the 5:15 p.m. twin-bill opener, meanwhile, are San Miguel and Titan Ultra, with the latter hoping to boost their chances of reaching the playoffs.
As it stands, the Beermen are sitting at second in Group A with a 6-2 record, sitting just behind NLEX, which improved to 7-1 last night after beating TNT in overtime, 118-111, despite losing DeQuan Jones to a fractured leg.
According to league stats chief Fidel Mangonon III, the Road Warriors should qualify for the playoffs since, historically, seven wins are good enough to make it.
That shall be the goal of SMB when they take on the Giant Risers, which they’ve dealt a humiliating 143-105 beatdown back in the first round last July 29.
San Miguel has won its last two outings, the latest a 131-79 clobbering of guest team Macau at the Ynares Center II in Montalban in a game that the league managed to finish after another case of roof leak interrupted the match.
A postponement became a possibility due to the heavy rains brought about by the southwest monsoon, but PBA officials ultimately pushed through.
And the Beermen went back to business, whipping the undermanned Giant Pandas with 45 points in the second quarter to start the brutal beatdown.
San Miguel is an overwhelming -24.5 favorite in the contest, according to Casino Plus sportsbook — a season-high in Asian handicapping. 
