MAGNOLIA eyes to extend its unbeaten start in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup to seven games against Rain or Shine. In the first game of the double-header at the Ynares Center-Montalban, San Miguel battles Terrafirma in what could be another lopsided result.
Why the Hotshots must be wary against the Elasto Painters, and more in our preview of Sunday’s twin-bill.
SAN MIGUEL VS. TERRAFIRMA
When: Sunday, May 18. 5 p.m.
Where: Ynares Center-Montalban
Beermen expected to cruise to victory
San Miguel battles cellar-dweller Terrafirma, with the Beermen set as heavy favorites to win over the Dyip. SMB defeated Phoenix, 111-92, in its previous game last May 11 to improve to 4-2, and it looks like the only way it will lose this game is by its own undoing.
The Beermen, who are now tied with Barangay Ginebra at third-place in the standings, enter an unusual schedule where after the Dyip game, they face Blackwater a week later on May 25 then Rain or Shine in an out-of-town game in Cagayan De Oro on July 7.
No light at the end of the tunnel for Terrafirma
Terrafirma continued to lose by a huge margin last Wednesday, falling to NLEX, 117-87. Now with a 1-6 win-loss slate, the Dyip are averaging a losing deficit of 30 points - and there are no signs that the slump will end anytime soon.
Badly outrebounded
A huge reason for Terrafirma’s struggles is its inability to rebound on a consistent basis. Over the past three games, the Dyip are only averaging 6.3 offensive rebounds per game.
Terrafirma collected single-digit numbers in second chance points in all of its six losses. The trend will appear to continue with the Dyip's bigs battling their counterparts from San Miguel led by eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo.
More time for bench players?
It will be safe to expect that the bench players of San Miguel could gain more playing time for this game. They have been delivering as of late, scoring 46 points in their previous matchup against Phoenix.
MAGNOLIA VS. RAIN OR SHINE
When: Sunday, May 18. 7:30 p.m.
Where: Ynares Center-Montalban
Magnolia eyes win No. 7, quarterfinal berth
Magnolia seeks to continue its unbeaten slate against Rain or Shine. For this game, the Hotshots will clinch a quarterfinals berth with a victory against the Elasto Painters.
It will also equal their franchise record for undefeated starts which they achieved last season in the 2023-24 Commissioner’s Cup and the 2008 Philippine Cup. Magnolia is coming off a 117-92 win over Meralco last Wednesday.
Rain or Shine was once a Magnolia streak-buster
Speaking of the 2023-24 Comm’s Cup, the Hotshots went 7-0 then, but their streak was ended by no less than the Elasto Painters by virtue of a 113-110 victory last December 16, 2023 in Cagayan De Oro. Can RoS repeat?
Shot the lights out in previous game
Magnolia won over Meralco with its best shooting night of the conference, so far. The Hotshots shot 56-percent highlighted by a 6-of-7 clip from fours with Paul Lee nailing all but two of them.
Over the past three games, the Hotshots' shooting has actually been on the rise with an output of 47-percent against Phoenix then 51 percent against Terrafirma. Following that shooting display against the Bolts, the likelihood of a return to the mean is likely which is why Magnolia must find other ways to win against Rain or Shine.
Long break ends for Rain or Shine
The Elasto Painters haven’t played a game since their 120-106 rout of Blackwater last May 7. After that respite, Rain or Shine must shake off the cobwebs against league-leader Magnolia, a huge game, as it tries to catch up with the top teams of the conference.
The Elasto Painters currently stand at sixth, just half a game ahead of Grand Slam-seeking TNT (3-3).
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