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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Twice-to-beat Magnolia, Phoenix eye quick route to semis

Twice-to-beat Magnolia, Phoenix eye quick route to semis

Published Jan 17, 2024 04:28 am

At A Glance

  • Top seed Magnolia and No. 4 Phoenix seek a quick passage to the semifinals when they take on separate foes in the quarterfinals of the 2023-'24 PBA Commissioner's Cup playoffs on Wednesday, Jan. 17, at the PhilSports Arena.
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Top seed Magnolia and No. 4 Phoenix seek a quick passage to the semifinals when they take on separate foes in the quarterfinals of the 2023-’24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs on Wednesday, Jan. 17, at the PhilSports Arena.

PBA Images14 (4).JPG

The Fuel Masters, who emerged as the biggest surprise in the conference, eye their first semis appearance after the Calvin Abueva and Matthew Wright era against the No. 5 Meralco Bolts in the first offering at 4 p.m.

The Hotshots, the most dominant team in the eliminations, figure in a marquee duel against a rejuvenated TNT Tropang Giga in the main event at 8 p.m.

By virtue of their respective Top 4 finishes, Magnolia and Phoenix both hold a twice-to-beat advantage over their quarterfinals rivals. The two squads, however, remained wary of their dangerous opponents and would love to not anymore let the series get dragged into a second game.

Magnolia, for one, is leaving its 9-2 record behind, stressing that the PBA playoffs is an entirely different beast altogether as teams tend to bring their level of play a notch higher with their tournament lives at stake.

Out to lead the way for the Hotshots of course is import Tyler Bey along with veterans Paul Lee, Mark Barroca, Jio Jalalon, Calvin Abueva and Ian Sangalang.

Seeking its first championship in five years, Magnolia is set to be tested against TNT which is finally getting its players back, starting with the return of RR Pogoy who could provide some help to main guns Calvin Oftana and import Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson.

The same mindset is also being put out by Phoenix especially going up against Meralco which is surely eager to get back at the Fuel Masters. It was actually the loss to Phoenix that eventually denied Meralco a shot at the top seed and eventually a chance to grab one of the twice-to-beat armors.

Import Shonn Miller is surely out to give everything he got to help Allein Maliksi and Chris Newsome force a do-or-die Game 2. Easier said than done, however, with Johnathan Williams III leading a young and hungry Phoenix that features the likes of Javee Mocon, Tyler Tio and Ricci Rivero to join veterans RJ Jazul and Jason Perkins. 

Related Tags

Magnolia Hotshots PBA Commissioner’s Cup Phoenix Fuel Masters
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