NorthPort shoots for a first-place tie as it welcomes San Miguel Beer back in the resumption of the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup.
After falling down in its last outing, the Batang Pier (3-1) will have a daunting task as it clashes with the five-time Philippine Cup champions at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Alaska (2-2) will likewise take on a debuting team in Magnolia at 4:30 p.m. in the initial offering.
The Beermen and the Hotshots are both coming off vacations after battling it out in a grueling seven-game finals in the All-Filipino conference.
Following a 3-0 start, NorthPort was stopped on its tracks by Barangay Ginebra, 73-70, last Saturday as it tasted its first defeat.
Still, the Batang Pier can regain a piece of the lead should it bounce back against the mighty Beermen.
It can tie Blackwater (4-1) at the top of the heap should it get back to its winning ways.
Fresh from its fifth straight conquest of the Philippine Cup, San Miguel Beer now marches forward with returning import Charles Rhodes as it looks to take a baby step in its Grand-slam aspirations.
Rhodes, who led San Miguel Beer to the Commissioner’s Cup title two seasons ago, will once again team up with five-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, Arwind Santos and Christian Standhardinger to form a formidable frontcourt.
Through four games, the Aces had alternated wins with losses.
They look to compile a winning streak against Magnolia after they routed NLEX, 100-87, last week.
Meanwhile, Phoenix forward Calvin Abueva is summoned by the league for his hits on TNT import Terrence Jones last Sunday and altercation with Maika Rivera, girlfriend of Blackwater ace rookie Bobby Ray Parks Jr., last Friday.
The commissioner’s office is expected to schedule a meeting with Abueva anytime within the week to discuss his actions in the Fuel Masters’ last two games.
Abueva was thrown out in Phoenix’s 88-114 loss to TNT KaTropa last Sunday after hitting Jones with a heavy clothesline that resulted into a disqualifying flagrant foul penalty 2.