A MARQUEE match-up is set to take place on Saturday in the PBA 50th Season Commissioner's Cup with San Miguel and TNT going up against each other following their recent title series.
Winless teams Magnolia and Macau are also playing against each other to start off the game day.
Here is a preview
MAGNOLIA VS. MACAU
When: Saturday, March 28. 5:15 p.m.
Where: Smart-Araneta Coliseum
Winless teams square off
Magnolia and Macau collide, as both hold a 0-3 win-loss record entering their clash. In their respective previous games, the Hotshots were beaten by Blackwater, 97-91, last Sunday, as the Black Knights were defeated by Barangay Ginebra, 110-93, a day before.
Changes for both squads
With their campaign on a slump at the start, both teams decided to make changes to their personnel.
Magnolia replaced Nuni Omot with Clinton Chapman in hopes of arresting the slide. Macau made a coaching change following its struggles by appointing former ASEAN Basketball League MVP Marcus Elliott as its head coach.
Jerom off target
Jerom Lastimosa's production offensively was sorely missed against Blackwater. After averaging 20.5 points in the first two games, Lastimosa was limited to only five points while shooting just 2-of-9 from the field.
Tony Mitchell faces old team
Tony Mitchell will be going up against his first team in the PBA, as the Macau import played for the Star Hotshots during the 2017 Commissioner's Cup. Perhaps one of the most memorable moments of Mitchell's stint with the Hotshots was when he brought down the entire court during an out-of-town game in Batangas.
TNT VS. SAN MIGUEL
When: Saturday, March 28. 7:30 p.m.
Where: Smart-Araneta Coliseum
Philippine Cup finals rematch
San Miguel and TNT battle for the first time since the Beermen beat the Tropang 5G last February to capture the Philippine Cup title. This time, they will face off with imports in Marcus Lee and Bol Bol, respectively. Both squads own similar 1-1 win-loss records entering the game.
Lee on the rise?
After a slow start to the conference, Lee did better in the Beermen's first win against Converge, 103-99, with 10 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks.
He may not score a ton but his inside presence may be enough for the stacked Beermen for this conference.
Miller's minutes
Rookie Chris Miller played extended minutes for San Miguel against Converge. In 16 minutes, Miller struggled offensively with four points on 1-of-8 shooting from the field, but his primary role in the game was on defense with head coach Leo Austria assigning the No. 8 pick in the Season 50 Draft to guard the tall guards of Converge. That could be the case as well for SMB's game against TNT.
Bol Bol gets test
Bol Bol was dominant in TNT's 103-97 win over NLEX when he had 40 points, 15 rebounds, and two blocks last Sunday. For this game, however, Bol is expected to get a test, as he battles a San Miguel team that has a deep frontcourt that includes Lee, Mo Tautuaa, and Rodney Brondial. A match-up against June Mar Fajardo could also be in the offing for Bol.
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