THE PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup holds a Sunday triple-header, with the final game being played overseas - first out-of-country contest in six years.
Here is a preview of the games.
TITAN ULTRA VS. RAIN OR SHINE
When: Sunday, October 26. 5:15 p.m.
Where: Ynares Center-Antipolo
Titan Ultra looks to arrest skid
Titan Ultra goes into the match-up against Rain or Shine on a three-game losing streak, the most recent defeat, a 130-92 blowout defeat to TNT. It goes without saying that defense should be a priority after the Giant Risers gave up 40 points in the second quarter and the largest points allowed in a game this conference.
RoS ready to go streaking
Rain or Shine enters the game against Titan Ultra with a 2-1 win-loss record, and a win will bring the Elasto Painters to a share of first-place with TNT, Converge, and Magnolia in the team standings.
Keith Datu a revelation for RoS
In Rain or Shine’s win over Blackwater, Keith Datu had a big night and finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks.
With the Giant Risers without a lethal big man, Datu must take advantage, as he seeks to repeat that performance against the Bossing.
Munzon, Abueva must improve their shooting
Joshua Munzon and Calvin Abueva nearly fired blanks in the loss to TNT, as they combined for only 6-of-25 from the field. Munzon still ended up finishing with a team-high 20 points, but got most of his points from the foul line where he nailed 15-of-20. But from the field, Munzon was only 2-of-14.
NLEX VS. MERALCO
When: Sunday, October 26. 7:30 p.m.
Where: Ynares Center-Antipolo
Meralco back in PBA action
Meralco faces NLEX, as the Bolts resume their Philippine Cup campaign after making their season debut in the EASL. The Bolts lost to the Ryukyu Golden Kings, 81-72, last Wednesday in Okinawa, Japan, and made their trip back home to prepare for Sunday’s action against the Road Warriors. Meralco is on a three-game winning streak in the PBA following wins against Blackwater, Barangay Ginebra, and Magnolia last week.
NLEX also seeks share of lead
With a 2-1 win-loss record, NLEX also aims for the share of the lead in its showdown against Meralco. The Road Warriors are coming off an 87-81 win over Phoenix and are also aiming for their first winning streak of the conference.
Alas an ace for NLEX
Kevin Alas has went back to his scoring ways in recent games for NLEX. In their win against Phoenix, he lit up with 26 points to lead the way for the Road Warriors.
With Robert Bolick also back in the fold after temporarily leaving the team due to the passing of his father, the NLEX backcourt looks dangerous.
SAN MIGUEL VS. BARANGAY GINEBRA
When: Sunday, October 26. 6 p.m. Dubai time/ 10 p.m. Manila time
Where: Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai.
Collision course in Dubai
San Miguel and Ginebra face off in Dubai for an out-of-the-country game at the 17,000-seater Coca-Cola Arena. According to PBA statistics chief Fidel Mangonon, the match-up is the seventh in Dubai and the first since 2019. Incidentally, the Beermen and Gin Kings where also on hand for that, but both facing NLEX in the 2019 Governors’ Cup.
Sporting sub-.500 records
The two powerhouse teams are off to slow starts to the Philippine Cup, as the Beermen and the Gin Kings enter the match-up with alike 1-2 win-loss records. San Miguel picked up its first win last October 19 vs. Rain or Shine, 111-93. Ginebra was toppled by Meralco, 89-75, last October 17 before their flight to Dubai.
Home away from home
All six previous PBA games in Dubai had Ginebra in action, and the Gin Kings have a decent record in those games with a 4-2 clip. However, the crowd darlings were defeated by NLEX, 113-111, on October 5, 2019 in their most recent game in the United Arab Emirates capital.
In-form Cjay Perez
After a slow start to the conference, Cjay Perez looks to have recovered from an ankle sprain dating back to his Gilas Pilipinas stint in the FIBA Asia Cup that kept him out of form during the first two games.
After the Beermen went 0-2, Perez finally got back to his scoring ways and finished with 23 points, giving his team much-needed tonic before flying to Dubai for the Ginebra outing.
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