FOUR more teams try to jumpstart their PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup campaign on Thursday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Here is a preview of the doubleheader.
NORTHPORT VS. NLEX
When: Thursday, November 28. 5 p.m.
Where: Ninoy Aquino Stadium
Changing imports
NorthPort and NLEX were in the same predicament with their imports prior to their debut. The Batang Pier and the Road Warriors were initially deploying Kavell Bigby Williams and Ed Davis, respectively, only to look for replacement due to differing reasons.
NorthPort will now play with Kadeem Jack, an American-Trinidadian who played for Rutgers in college and the NBA G League, while NLEX will field Michael Griffin-Watkins, who also saw action in the G League as well as in overseas leagues in Israel, Venezuela, and Colombia.
Kevin Alas on pace to return
After more than a year, Kevin Alas is in line to return after recovering from a third ACL tear as he has been inserted in the active roster for the Road Warriors. Alas is physically prepared and has been practicing with NLEX since being given a go-signal by doctors, giving the Road Warriors a much-needed firepower to complement Robert Bolick.
Jong-Siot reunion
Longtime San Miguel and Barangay Ginebra fans might be looking forward to see the NLEX bench as Jong Uichico and Siot Tanquingcen will be working together once again for the first time since winning a couple of championships for the Beermen in the 2000 Commissioner’s Cup, 2000 Governors’ Cup, 2001 All-Filipino Cup, and for the Gin Kings in the 2007 Philippine Cup.
BLACKWATER VS. MAGNOLIA
When: Thursday, November 28. 7:30 p.m.
Where: Ninoy Aquino Stadium
Returning imports
George King is back with Blackwater, looking to once again carry the Bossing in their chase for a playoff spot after he took the league by storm in his PBA debut conference in the Governors’ Cup. Meanwhile, Magnolia will also have a comebacking import in Ricardo Ratliffe, who is slated to play for the Hotshots again after seven years. Ratliffe is back after his stint as Korea’s naturalized player with his last outing with the Hotshots coming all the way back in the 2017 Commissioner’s Cup.
Blackwater without Troy Rosario
The Bossing begin the new conference with a hole to fill after Troy Rosario became an unrestricted free agent and signed with Barangay Ginebra prior to the Commissioner’s Cup. In his final conference with the Bossing, Rosario averaged 13.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in the Governors’ Cup, numbers that would have to be filled by Justin Chua, Bradwyn Guinto, Clifford Jopia, and Jewel Ponferrada.
Hotshots begin bid to return to finals
Magnolia starts its quest to return to the championship after settling for a runner-up finish to San Miguel. The Hotshots made little tweaks to the team from last season’s Commissioner’s Cup run to the finals, with Zav Lucero and Jerom Lastimosa bringing youth to the Hotshots. Incidentally, Lastimosa is also slated to make his PBA debut against Blackwater after recovering from an ACL injury he sustained during his final year with Adamson.
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