A titanic clash looms as two of the league leaders collide, with San Miguel Beer and Magnolia banging heads in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup.
Both armed with three-game winning runs, the Beermen (3-0) and the Hotshots (3-1) test each other in a highly-anticipated tiff at 7 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City as they chase a fourth straight win.
In the appetizer, Columbian (2-2) and BlackWater (1-2) figure in a critical match-up at 4:30 p.m. to start the show.
The Beermen are looking to keep in-step with league-leader and fellow unbeaten team TNT KaTropa (5-0).
San Miguel Beer’s bid for a grandslam is obviously off to a rousing start.
With import Dez Wells playing good as advertised, the Beermen are all business, downing NLEX, 98-94, in Dubai last week for their third win in a row.
“When I tell him (Wells) to take charge, he takes the challenge and is leading us so far,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria. “His impact reflects our record right now.”
After dropping its initial assignment, defending champion Magnolia has scored three straight victories as it is slowly but surely gaining its championship form.
“The hunger of our guys are showing and we need all of that against San Miguel,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero, whose squad took down Alaska, 95-90, just a couple of days ago.
The Dyip have alternated wins with losses thus far, while Blackwater got on the winning column after conquering NorthPort, 107-98, last Saturday.
“Our aim is to win back-to-back games for us to move up,” said Blackwater coach Aris Dimaunahan. “This game against Columbian is something we really need.”