Dubai duel highlights busy PBA weekend
A jam-packed PBA Philippine Cup weekend features a compelling top-of-the-standings scenario and a marquee matchup in Dubai between two of the league’s biggest teams.
TNT, Magnolia, Converge, and NLEx—all tied at 2-1—face separate foes across a three-day stretch at Ynares Center in Antipolo beginning on Friday. That same day, Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer head to the UAE for their Sunday clash at Coca-Cola Arena.
Both teams are coming off rough starts, making their overseas showdown a crucial opportunity to turn things around. Ginebra opened with a loss to Magnolia, bounced back against TNT, but fell to Meralco after blowing a 15-point lead. San Miguel, meanwhile, snapped a 0-2 start with a 111-93 win over Rain or Shine.
Back home, TNT faces Titan Ultra, which may get Calvin Abueva back from injury. Magnolia meets Terrafirma on Saturday, where Jerom Lastimosa aims to bounce back after being blamed for a missed game-winner against Meralco.
Converge battles Phoenix, with Juan Gomez de Liaño entering that match having posted two triple-doubles in his first three games as a PBA rookie. The FiberXers won both games and their newfound depth means they don’t have to fully rely on a stat-stuffing Gomez de Liaño to carry them.
NLEx, on the other hand, is in for a difficult battle against Meralco, which resumes its domestic campaign after an 81-72 loss to the Ryukyu Golden Kings in Okinawa, Japan to begin its East Asia Super League debut.
Blackwater and Rain or Shine—both at 1-1—open Friday’s double-header at 5 p.m. The rest of the field sits at 1-2: Ginebra, San Miguel, Phoenix, Terrafirma and Titan Ultra.
