lodi casino PBA: Manila Clasico on Christmas, guest team opens action

FILE–PBA trophies for the season. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—The PBA officially released the schedule for the Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Monday with marquee matches scattered on different playdates from November to January of next year.

Opening day will be on November 27 at Philsports Arena in Pasig with the first game featuring the revamped Converge FiberXers against the last conference’s cellar dweller, Terrafirma.

Article continues after this advertisement

The FiberXers look to capitalize on their best finish in recent history in the last conference while welcoming former Gilas sniper Jordan Heading in their young lineup. 2024 top pick Justine Baltazar, however, has yet to confirm if he will be playing for Converge already.

FEATURED STORIES SPORTS SCHEDULE: Gilas Pilipinas at Fiba Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers SPORTS New Zealand Tall Blacks make for tough Gilas Pilipinas assignment SPORTS LA Tenorio named new Gilas Youth coach with 'continuity' in mind READ: PBA puts guest squad on opening day main event

Terrafirma will be ushering in a new era without coach Johnedel Cardel at the helm, who called the squad’s shots for almost six years. The Dyip will be taking directives from acting and interim coach Raymond Tiongco while having import Ryan Richards to help the cause.

Guest team Hong Kong Eastern will also debut on opening day as it goes up against a young Phoenix squad.

Article continues after this advertisement

The Fuel Masters look to bounce back from their abysmal 1-9 record last conference with the help of young cagers Ricci Rivero, Tyler Tio and Kai Ballungay plus its old reliables RR Garcia, Jayson Perkins and RJ Jazul.

Article continues after this advertisement

Import Donovan Smith will be backing up the young squad under coach Jamike Jarin in hopes of improving their standing in the league

Article continues after this advertisement CLASICO FOR CHRISTMAS, FINALS REMATCH

FILE–Ginebra Gin Kings and Magnolia Hotshots square off in the PBA All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQuIRER.net

The games for Christmas day will be filled with fireworks as Ginebra and Magnolia rekindle their rivalry for the Yuletide season.

A returning Justin Brownlee spearheads the Gin Kings against the Hotshots, who will be enforcing a familiar face in the form of Ricardo Ratcliffe.

Article continues after this advertisement

The PBA Governors’ Cup finalists also hope they can have the services of injured swingmen Isaac Go, Jeremiah Gray and Jamie Malonzo just in time for when they take on the shooting duo of Paul Lee and Mark Barroca.

The Hotshots, meanwhile, look to finally have the presence of rookie Jerom Lastimosa on the hardwood to signal a new rivalry with an (RJ) Abarrientos and a Lastimosa in the chessboard.

READ: PBA: Jerom Lastimosa out of Magnolia’s Governors’ Cup campaign

The Hotshots also aim to finish the elimination round on a high note when they face San Miguel Beer in a rematch of last year’s Commissioners’ Cup Finals.

The Beermen defeated the Hotshots after six games in last season’s finalè but it’ll be hard to replicate their wins into this new season with the uncertainty of Bennie Boatwright, who’s currently nursing a calf injury, according to coach Tim Cone a few days back.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

SIGN ME UP

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

As of writinglodi casino, Quincy Miller will be the one to backstop the Beermen for the upcoming conference alongside the championship core of Chris Ross, Marcio Lassiter and the league’s very best, June Mar Fajardo.

READ NEXT PVL: Vet Jovelyn Gonzaga leads young ZUS Coffee breakthrough Roger Federer pens tribute to retiring Rafael Nadal EDITORS' PICK LIST: Fiesta Señor 2025 activities PDEA, DDB open to downgrading marijuana from dangerous drugs list Marcos urges gov’t agencies to avoid lavish Christmas parties this 2024 Mary Jane Veloso’s transfer to PH facility under discussion – DFA Group calls on Victoria Kjaer Theilvig to decry ‘exploitation’ of ‘blood pearls’ SCHEDULE: Gilas Pilipinas at Fiba Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers MOST READ Comelec lists approved areas for mock elections, no date set yet Peso may fall to 59, BSP to intervene House insists on ‘ayuda’ Senate wants to defund Pagasa says 3 weather systems to bring cloudy skies, rains Nov 19 Follow @FMangosingINQ on Twitter --> View comments

• Manila
• on
• PBA
• lodi casino
• Clasico