Magnolia will look to build off its massive Manila Clasico win when the traditional contenders figure in a group phase rematch against an embattled Meralco in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup later tonight at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Game time is at 7:30 PM, with the Hotshots coming in confident after downing Ginebra convincingly. And having notched just their second win of the conference, the team hopes momentum is finally going their way.
From a 0-2 start, Coach LA Tenorio’s wards have won twice in their last three outings, with their other win at the expense of the Bolts last July 24.
It’s a quick encore between the budding rivals, but Magnolia is in better form than the Bolts, who are in the midst of a three-game slide.
But their most recent defeat — an 83-85 decision against Rain or Shine — proved more personal. The two teams traded statements after Elasto Painters head coach Yeng Guiao labelled Cliff Hodge as the ‘dirtiest player’ in the PBA.
It came after the veteran big man’s knee collided with Adrian Nocum’s thigh, which caused anxious moments at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, since they both took a while to get back on their feet before going to the bench.
They eventually finished the game, and the rising star guard was even key in their strong closeout with his assists. But the drama didn’t stop at the final buzzer, as the fiery bench tactician once again expressed his frustration with Hodge.
It will be interesting to see if that affects Meralco’s mental state, especially now that the team has fallen to 2–4 in Group B — its worst six-game start in a conference since going 1-5 during the 2023-23 Commissioner’s Cup.
Magnolia enters the matchup as a -4.0 favorite, according to Casino Plus sportsbook, while the over/under is set at 190.0.
Bets are placed here: https://www.casinoplus.com.ph/home/inGame?name=basketball&title=SportBet.
(C) PBA Images
Meanwhile, NLEX will try to stretch its unbeaten streak to seven when it takes on Terrafirma in the double-header opener, scheduled at 5:15 PM.
Coach Jimmy Alapag and his charges are fresh off an 88-83 victory against no less than the defending champions in TNT last Tuesday. It was a meeting full of nostalgia as the 2011 PBA MVP met his former team for the first time.
Later, they’ll face a side that has just absorbed yet another loss: a 92-96 heartbreaker against guest team Macau on July 29, as the Dyip failed to follow up on their 111-106 stunner of the Tropang 5G in the game prior.
Terrafirma fell to 2-4 in Group A after that loss, but the Road Warriors shouldn’t get too confident in their chances during the rematch.
After all, they nearly suffered the upset axe in their first-round matchup last July 12. NLEX already held a supposedly comfortable 90-67 lead entering the fourth quarter, but their foes put together a furious rally. But they were lucky enough to survive as Juami Tiongson and Justin Strings struggled to find a good look at the basket.
The Road Warriors eventually took the 101-100 decision as they averted a meltdown from taking place.
Terrafirma is a whopping +11.5 underdog, according to Casino Plus sportsbook. The over/under is pegged at 228.5.
