Magnolia collides with TNT as PBA season begins

After a six-month hiatus, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) will make a comeback on Sunday, November 5 at the Smart Araneta Arena as powerhouses Magnolia and TNT square off in the only game that marks the start of the 48th Commissioner’s Cup Season .

The much-anticipated game begins at 7 p.m., following the annual Leo Awards ceremony and opening ceremonies.

TNT coach and team manager Jojo Lastimosa can finally breathe a sigh of relief as Quincy Miller has been released from Converge so he can now reinforce the Tropang Giga against the Hotshots.

The 6-foot-8 Miller played for the FiberXers last season, helping the young team reach the quarterfinals before being fired by San Miguel Beer.

The former Baylor University standout’s move into the TNT lineup is expected to go smoothly, as Miller has already appeared in two East Asian Super League home and away games, which ended in a loss to the Chiba Jets.

However, Miller will only be a walk-on WR for the Tropang Giga until resident WR Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is ready to play.

“Quincy is preparing for a few games with Ronda,” Lastimosa told The Manila Times.

Hollis-Jefferson is suffering from gastroenteritis and is expected to miss the first few games on TNT.

However, Tropang Giga expects to have an uphill battle to start the new season as they will be without big men Poy Erram and Justin Chua, both of whom are recovering from knee surgeries in the offseason. come over.

Sharpshooter Roger Pogoy also will miss the next five months with myocarditis. Filipino-American guard Mitch Williams’ status with the team remains uncertain at this time.

Lastimosa, meanwhile, said they are familiar with Magnolia, a team determined to compete for nothing less than the Commissioner’s Cup title with its strengthened roster.

“These guys are familiar with Magnolia. Even before I came in, we had a good fight with their guards. It’s going to be a good fight,” Lastimosa said.

“They are the favorite to sweep the (PBA On) tournament this season.”

The hot team is indeed a championship favorite, sweeping the preseason with an 11-0 record and bringing in Tyler Bey to play and acclimate with the team over the past two months.