San Miguel will shoot for a third straight win when it challenges the unbeaten Rain or Shine in what should be a playoff-like battle in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Beermen (3-2) are entering the 7:30 p.m. bout as the favorites, according to the Casino Plus sportsbook, as they’re favored to win by -2.0 points. The over-under in total points scored between the two, on the other hand, is set at 217.0.
Bets can be made here: https://www.casinoplus.com.ph/home/inGame?name=basketball&title=SportBet.
But regardless of what the betting odds may say, the long-time powerhouse is coming in hot, having picked back-to-back victories, the most recent of which was a dramatic 85-82 decision against Barangay Ginebra last Sunday.
(C) PBA Images
Before a solid crowd at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, Coach Leo Austria’s men rallied back from 15 down, and Don Trollano would go on to sink the go-ahead triple with eight seconds remaining to eventually escape with the win.
For sure, SMB will be playing in a similar atmosphere again, with a big turnout expected at the old venue as fans can watch the game for free–this, as the league will give out tickets for free as part of its 51st anniversary celebration.
Those who wish to watch in person can avail of the special promo on a first-come, first-served basis. Live audiences will also have a chance to receive basketballs, t-shirts, and other freebies courtesy of league sponsors.
The Beermen have long been known to thrive in such situations, and they’d definitely try to bank on it again in an attempt to scathe the Elasto Painters, who are currently sitting atop the standings with a pristine 4-0 record.
(C) PBA Images
After beating Macau and contenders TNT and Meralco, the wards of Coach Yeng Guiao are coming into the match buoyed by their historic rout of Blackwater, in which they mauled the regular league minnows by 56, 151-95.
Per PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III, it is now the new record for the biggest winning margin in the league, breaking a 46-year-old mark.
It eclipsed the previous highwater mark of 154-99, which was set by U/Tex over Great Taste on July 12, 1980, during the Open Conference semifinals.
To say that it was humiliating could be an understatement given that they got written in history books for the wrong reasons, but the Bossing can find some redemption when they take on the luckless Titan Ultra at 5:15 p.m.
And at least according to the Casino Plus sportsbook, they’re still a favorite to win by -4.5 points, with the over-under in total points set at 209.5.
But Coach Jeff Cariaso and his charges are aware that they cannot afford to fall complacent whatsoever, for they will be facing a Giant Risers team bent on bouncing back after falling short against Meralco last March 29.
Titan Ultra rallied back from as much as 28 down and got within eight points twice, the last being at 97-89 with less than five minutes remaining.
However, the breaks went in the Bolts’ favor, with Chris Newsome getting away with an obvious shooting foul on Bryan Sajonia, drawing a howl of protest from the coaches. Their momentum got snapped, never to recover.
The Giant Risers eventually absorbed the 118-105 defeat and fell to 1-3, which, coincidentally, is also the same record Blackwater possesses.
