THE final conference of the PBA's 50th Season starts on Friday at the Ynares Center-Antipolo.
The highlight of the opening playdate of the Governors’ Cup will be the PBA coaching debut of Jimmy Alapag with NLEX.
Here is a preview of the doubleheader.
TERRAFIRMA VS. TITAN ULTRA
When: Friday, July 10. 5:15 p.m.
Where: Ynares Center-Antipolo
Dyip, Risers battle in PBA opener again
Terrafirma and Titan Ultra face off at the start of the 50th Season Governors’ Cup. The Dyip and the Giant Risers were among the teams that didn’t make it to the quarterfinals last conference. Incidentally, the two squads also faced each other during the Commissioner’s Cup opener with Terrafirma beating Titan Ultra, 112-82.
Juami comes back to Terrafirma
Juami Tiongson is scheduled to play his first game back at Terrafirma on Friday against Titan Ultra. Tiongson returned to the team that he played from 2019 to 2025 after he and Chris Miller were traded by San Miguel to Terrafirma for Jerrick Ahanmisi and Paolo Hernandez. The first game could determine whether Tiongson will be back to his old role as the primary scorer for the Dyip.
John Amores returns
John Amores is in line to make his PBA comeback on Friday after he was signed to a one-conference deal by Titan Ultra. Already in the middle of controversy during his time with Jose Rizal University in the NCAA, Amores got involved in a shooting incident in Lumban, Laguna in September 2024. A settlement has apparently been reached between the parties, paving the way for Amores’ return to the court.
MACAU GIANT PANDAS VS. NLEX
When: Friday, July 10. 7:30 p.m.
Where: Ynares Center-Antipolo
Alapag makes PBA head coaching debut
Friday marks the debut of Jimmy Alapag as PBA head coach after his stint as player development coach with the Sacramento Kings in the NBA. Alapag will man the sidelines just two weeks after signing with the Road Warriors. Alapag said there were subtle changes at NLEX with the team still running the concepts of former head coach Jong Uichico, who has stayed with the squad as an assistant coach.
Bounce back bid for NLEX
NLEX is coming off a sorry finish to the Commissioner’s Cup where the Road Warriors topped the elimination round with a 10-2 win-loss record, but were ousted in the quarterfinals by eighth-seed TNT despite holding a twice-to-beat advantage.
From Black Knights to Giant Pandas
Macau begins its second conference in the PBA as guest team on Friday when it plays in the Governors’ Cup opener against NLEX. Macau has now changed its name from Black Knights to Giant Pandas, and the hope is that there would also be a change in the strength of the team after winning only three games during its PBA debut in the Commissioner’s Cup.
Based on the opening-day roster, Macau has got back Damian Chong Qui, Jenning Leung, and Ramon Cao, while also signing former Bay Area Dragons and Hong Kong Eastern player Kobey Lam for the Governors’ Cup.
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