POWERHOUSE squads San Miguel Beer and TNT collide in a monumental showdown in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The two teams are meeting for the first time since the Beermen beat the Tropang 5G in Game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup finals series.
Headlining the two teams’ early conference collision is the Beermen taking on TNT’s much-ballyhooed import Bol Bol.
The 7-foot-3 Bol, who played for the Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns in six NBA seasons, averaged 39 points, 15.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks in TNT’s first two games.
TNT opened the conference with a stunning 112-109 loss to Rain or Shine, before bouncing back with a 103-99 triumph over NLEX.
San Miguel also opened the midseason conference with a 112-119 setback to Titan Ultra but regained its bearing and punched in its first win against Converge, 103-99, last Wednesday.
Marcus Lee, SMB’s defensive oriented import, bounced back from a subpar PBA debut against Titan Ultra by collecting 10 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and three blocks against Converge.
The Beermen will certainly need more of the 6-foot-10 Lee’s length and defensive presence against Bol, who can score from the outside as well.
Bol’s elongated frame and arms enable him to swat enemy attempts in the shaded lane easily, something that SMB coach Leo Austria is wary of.
Other than June Mar Fajardo, the nine-time league Most Valuable Player, SMB hopes to get perimeter scoring from Don Trollano, CJ Perez and Marcio Lassiter.
Meanwhile, Magnolia and Macau Black Knights collide at 5:15 p.m. in a battle between two winless squads.
The two squads enter the game carrying identical 0-3 records.
The Black Knights are hopeful that the entry of a new coach in Marcus Elliot could bring in a breath of fresh air for the foreign guest team.
Elliot, who once starred for Hong Eastern that ruled the 2017 Asean Basketball League en route to being named ABL Finals MVP, replaced Garrett Kelly recently.
Kelly now assumes a new role as director of player development.
Macau hopes Elliot’s vast playing experience that saw him play overseas in a decorated 15-year pro career could augur well for the Black Knights.
The Black Knights are going up against a Hotshots side that is also unveiling a new import in Clint Chapman, who replaced Nuni Omot.