A BLOCKBUSTER clash and an evenly-matched tiff are featured in the Christmas presentation of the 2017-18 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup.
Governors’ Cup champion Barangay Ginebra makes its season debut and it faces an acid test right away as the Magnolia Hotshots (formerly Star) stand in its way as the two teams resume their rivalry at 5:15 p.m. at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Preceding that is the appetizer pitting the NLEX Road Warriors (1-0) making their debut against the GlobalPort Batang Pier.
After listing wins right away in their opening outings, Magnolia and NLEX both shoot for a second straight win and a piece of the early tournament lead against their respective foes.
This will be third straight year that the Gin Kings and the Hotshots face each other on Christmas day with the former earning victories on both occasions.
Ginebra, obviously, wants to keep its mastery of Magnolia going while the Hotshots are hoping for a reversal.
The core of both teams remain intact as they will continue to be spearheaded by their veterans from last season.
Both teams though will miss the services of several players due to injuries.
Ginebra will be minus Joe Devance and Art Dela Cruz while Magnolia will be playing without Rafi Reavis, Jio Jalalon and Marc Pingris.
In its initial assignment, the Hotshots impressed as they easily stopped Alaska, 108-95, in a one-sided affair last Wednesday.
Paul Lee unleashed his scoring in that opening win, dropping a season-high 30 points to carry Magnolia.
Just as impressive is highly-touted rookie Kiefer Ravena’s debut for NLEX.
The No. 2 overall pick introduced himself to the pros emphatically, tallying an impressive debut with 18 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds for a near triple-double in the Road Warriors’ 119-115 triumph over Kia last Wednesday.
Ravena, Kevin Alas and Alex Mallari are expected to once again banner NLEX against the Batang Pier.
Gunner Stanley Pringle, on the other hand, will lead the charge for GlobalPort as an interesting battle of prolific backcourts take place.
The Batang Pier, however, will miss the services of star Terrence Romeo, who continues to recuperate from his tendonitis.
