Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson is all set to make his PBA comeback later tonight when TNT takes on San Miguel Beer in a meeting between league heavyweights in the Season 50 Governors’ Cup at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Game time is set at 7:30 PM, with the Tropang 5G hoping that familiarity will create success — something, unfortunately, the out-of-shape Darius Days couldn’t provide in their four games together.
TNT, though, will enter the game as a +6.0 underdog, according to Casino Plus sports book. The over/under is pegged at 217.5 as of 2:30 PM.
Bets can be made here: https://www.casinoplus.com.ph/home/inGame?name=basketball&title=SportBet.
He played his final game with the team — a 110-107 escape against Converge, thanks to a Rey Nambatac game-winner, last Tuesday — as the defending champs gave him the pink slip to make way for their former EASL import.
Now, the older brother of Rondae is already in town and will be playing his first game back against the Beermen as a quick litmus test.
Rahlir was also brought in as his younger brother’s replacement during the 2024 Commissioner’s Cup after the latter got injured. He most recently played for the Joensuun Kataja Basket Club of the Korisliiga in Finland.
Together, they’ll take on a team that’s keen on building another win streak. After their 4-0 bid got thrashed by Jimmy Alapag’s NLEX, SMB rebounded with a 143-105 waylaying of the hapless Titan Ultra last Wednesday.
San Miguel is now sitting just behind the 4-0 Road Warriors with a 4-1 record and is hoping to catch up with them at the top, which could happen depending on the current no. 1 team’s meeting versus the FiberXers later as well.
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It would be the double-header offering’s opening salvo at 5:15 PM, with NLEX, of course, hoping to stretch its unbeaten winning run to five.
But they will try to do so against a team that’s become desperate to get that winning feeling again.
After a 3-0 start, Converge has lost twice in a row, first against San Miguel and then to TNT, as mentioned above.
That game against the Tropa was also their first with the returning Jamaal Franklin. Giving the ex-NBA pro his first win this conference should serve as an added motivation for the crew to take down the only unbeaten team so far.
The FiberXers are a +4.0 underdog, according to Casino Plus sportsbook. The over/under for total points is 219.5.
