Meralco and Magnolia figure in a crucial encounter in Iloilo City as they gun for better positioning in the playoffs in the 2023- ‘24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the San Agustin Gym in Iloilo City on Saturday, Jan. 6.

Tip-off of the clash is at 6:30 p.m. with the Bolts eyeing to keep themselves in the race for the Top 4 spots and twice-to-beat bonus while the Hotshots aim to strengthen their hold of the top seed in the final stretch of the eliminations.

The league-pacing Magnolia easily got back on track after absorbing its first defeat of the season, notching twin victories over slumping teams Terrafirma and Converge to end 2023. 

Such momentum is what the Hotshots are hoping to keep as they try to sharpen their killer instincts despite being already assured of the quarterfinals incentive after improving a 9-1 record.

Magnolia, though, could be facing some sort of surprise factor against Meralco which is mulling possible import change after tapping the services of new reinforcement Shonn Miller. 

At 6-foot-7, the former G League player who also had stints in Greece, Portugal and Germany, could provide the inside the presence the team needs following the Achilles injury to fist import Suleiman Braimoh.

Of course, Meralco could still field import Zach Lofton who the team originally tapped for its East Asia Super League games but had to play stand-in for the Bolts in the PBA when Braimoh went down with the  injury.

Either way, any of the imports. who Meralco decides to field, is expected to have his hands full against Magnolia which is currently one of the league’s top defensive teams.

At the forefront of the almost impenetrable defensive stand is the pesky guard rotation of Paul Lee, Mark Barroca and last season’s defensive player of the year Jio Jalalon. Lording over the paint are the vastly improved James Laput, returning Calvin Abueva and twin towers of Ian Sangalang and import Tyler Bey.

That particularly put much of the pressure on the shoulders of Allein Maliksi, Bong Quinto and Chris Banchero to run the offense especially with top guards Chris Newsome and Aaron Black remain questionable for the contest after missing out on the the Bolts, 89-77 loss to the visiting New Taipei Kings last Wednesday, Jan. 3 in the EASL.