A pair of mouth-watering battles that feature a clash between Converge and San Miguel and a showdown between Barangay Ginebra and NorthPort serve as curtain-raisers to the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs which begins at the PhilSports Arena on Wednesday, Dec. 7.
Rolling the red carpet is the series opener of the best-of-three quarterfinals series between the No. 4 seed FiberXers and the No. 5 Beermen in the first offering at 3 p.m.
Following suit is the equally exciting duel between No.3 seed Kings and No.6 Batang Pier who, likewise, will open their series at 5:45 p.m.
Both San Miguel and NorthPort are determined to exact their revenge against their rivals after falling to their hands in their lone meetings in the eliminations.
The Beermen, for one, are more confident heading into the game as compared to their 102-106 loss against the FiberXers in the eliminations with the return of main man June Mar Fajardo and flamboyant guard Terrence Romeo.
Import Devon Scott, who now looks more comfortable than ever in his role with SMB, should also be extra motivated to get back at Converge which gave him a rude welcome to the PBA during that loss.
Quincy Miller, though, is expected to lead the run-and-gun offense of Aldin Ayo along with spitfire and deadshot guards in Aljun Melecio, Maverick Ahanmisi and RK Ilagan along with steady contributors Jeron Teng and Abu Tratter.