SAN Miguel and Magnolia, squads surprisingly in the middle of the pack, battle each other in a must-win game, while Barangay Ginebra goes up against upstart Phoenix Super LPG in the PBA 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup.
Here is a preview of the Sunday match day at the Big Dome.
SAN MIGUEL VS. MAGNOLIA
When: Sunday, April 12. 5:15 p.m.
Where: Smart-Araneta Coliseum
Coming from losses
San Miguel and Magnolia look to get back to winning in their face-off. The Beermen were beaten by league-leader Rain or Shine, 116-112, last Wednesday, and the Hotshots were nipped by Ginebra, 91-89, last Friday.
Entering their game, SMB is in seventh with a 3-3 win-loss record, while Magnolia is 10th at 2-4, so the game is a must for their quarterfinals aspirations.
Avoid weekend sweep against sister teams
Magnolia plays another sister team in San Miguel just two days after the Hotshots were defeated by Ginebra on a game-winner by RJ Abarrientos.
This means Magnolia only had one full day to prepare for the Beermen.
Limit turnovers
A big reason for both Magnolia and San Miguel's losses were turnovers.
The Hotshots actually won most of the statistical departments, including field goals (45.6 percent), free throws (20-of-20), rebounds (49-39), and assists (20-14). However, they committed 20 turnovers, including an errant pass by Jerom Lastimosa in the final seconds, that led to 17 Ginebra points.
The Beermen also had 20 errors against Rain or Shine, which capitalized by scoring 29.
PHOENIX SUPER LPG VS. BARANGAY GINEBRA
When: Sunday, April 12. 7:30 p.m.
Where: Smart-Araneta Coliseum
Move up the standings
Phoenix and Ginebra will part ways after their clash. The Fuel Masters and the Gin Kings both own a 3-2 record for a share of fourth alongside TNT.
Phoenix was defeated by NLEX, 120-108, last week, while Ginebra is fresh off a rivalry game win against Magnolia, 91-89.
More scoring from Dickey
James Dickey III will be out to bounce back against Ginebra.
The import had limited contributions offensively in Phoenix’s loss to NLEX when he shot just 5-of-14 from the field to finish with only 13 points.
Scottie, RJ join forces
Ginebra won against Magnolia through the guard play of Scottie Thompson and RJ Abarrientos. Thompson had his best scoring output of the conference when he had 24 points, while Abarrientos stayed consistent with 19 points, including the game-winning shot off a Thompson inbounds pass.
Cone vs. Charles
First-year Phoenix head coach Charles Tiu gets a major test on the sidelines, as he goes up against Ginebra mentor Tim Cone, a 25-time league champion. This marks the first time that Tiu will go up against Cone as PBA shot-caller.
Dickey vs. Brownlee
Two former teammates and good friends in Justin Brownlee of Ginebra and Dickey III of Phoenix also face off. Brownlee and Dickey were once teammates when they won a championship with Pelita Jaya in Indonesia in 2024.
Dickey was adamant that Brownlee encouraged him to play in the PBA, and finally got that chance when Phoenix offered him to play in the Commissioner’s Cup.
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