TWO teams making huge strides in the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup face separate opponents on Sunday at the Philsports Arena.
Magnolia Chicken Timplados guns for its seventh straight victory against San Miguel in the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader at 6:15 p.m.
NorthPort also looks to extend its winning streak to four matches against Meralco at 3 p.m.
MAGNOLIA STILL UNBEATEN
The Hotshots are fresh from their 105-84 win over Blackwater last Wednesday to maintain their undefeated run.
San Miguel, however, remains a formidable opponent even though the Beermen suffered a 115-101 defeat against NorthPort last Friday.
Magnolia coach Chito Victolero still sees a tough game against San Miguel even with the absence of June Mar Fajardo, who will be missing his second game since suffering a fractured left hand.
VICTOLERO WARY OF SAN MIGUEL
“There is no advantage against San Miguel because their first group is equally talented with their second group and third group nila,” said Victolero. “Maybe, wala si June Mar but they have Mo Tautuaa, they have Rodney Brondial, and their other guards, and especially their import.”
“We just need to be focused and locked in so we have a good showing against San Miguel,” Victolero said.
The Batang Pier will go for another win against a perennial playoff contender in the Bolts after they stunned the Beermen.
NorthPort has already won three straight games with a 5-2 win-loss record. The Batang Pier are in fourth place and in a good position to secure one of the four twice-to-beat incentives in the quarterfinals.
To extend their winning streak, the Batang Pier need to maintain their form despite playing their third game in five days.
Standing in third place, Meralco’s two-game winning streak is also on the line as the Bolts look to improve on their 4-1 win-loss record.
The Bolts, however, will be deploying a new import in Zach Lofton after Su Braimoh sustained an Achilles injury during their 97-94 win over NLEX last Sunday.
Lofton, who will be making his debut, is no stranger to the team, having served as Meralco import in the East Asia Super League.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
