Barangay Ginebra and Magnolia look to set aside the celebrations for the Yuletide season and wear their respective game faces when they figure in the Christmas Day edition of their storied Manila Clasico rivalry on Wednesday, Dec. 25, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum

A gift to the fans by the PBA, the Christmas Day double-header promises to be a banger of a yearender for the Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup with the clash between Meralco and Converge at 5 p.m. before the Kings and Hotshots showdown in the main event at 7:30 p.m.

As colorful and as lively as the celebrations, both Magnolia and Ginebra are shrugging off the distractions and are laser focused on the contest that is deemed crucial to their respective campaigns.

For one, the Hotshots are hoping to make a stranger case for their playoff hunt after finally ending a four-game slump last time out following a 99-95 win over the NLEX Road Warriors.

The win pumped some life to Magnolia’s hopes as it improved to a 2-4 slate and a win against Ginebra could allow it to climb up into the middle of the standings.

“We are in a do-or-die situation. We put on our playoff mindsets early. I think we’re nearing the exit so we need to have that sense of urgency to play better,” said Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero.

Magnolia import Ricardo Ratliffe is also thrilled not only to be featured in his first Manila Clasico game, more so be starring on the Christmas Day main event.

““I’m looking forward to it. I know it’s the biggest rivalry in this league. I didn’t get a chance to play my first two times because I came as a replacement. I usually come around right before the playoffs because of my season in Korea,” said Ratliffe.

“But I'm definitely looking forward to Christmas and playing in my first rivalry game,” he added.

Familiarity to the situation isn’t entirely stranger for the Kings though having starred in the last three Christmas Day games, facing Magnolia the last time in 2021 before taking on the Bay Area Dragons in the Commissioner’s Cup Finals series in 2022 and TNT in 2023.

Still, head coach Tim Cone wants his ward to remain on their toes especially Justin Brownlee and Scottie Thompson who are expected to lead the charge for a Kings team raring to bounce back from their sorry 98-91 loss against Converge that put Ginebra on a 3-2 slate.

Meanwhile, the FiberXers aim to continue with their giant-slaying ways as, after taking down the Kings, they set their sight on the heads of the Philippine Cup champion Meralco Bolts.

The streaking Converge has now won three straight for a 5-2 record.

The Bolts, on the other hand, have been playing sloppily as of late, dropping a 114-98 decision against Blackwater after only barely surviving Terrafirma – two teams that are currently at the lower half of the standings.