19 hours Ago By N/A (Reynald I. Magallon)
Meralco guns for a winning start when it takes on Converge to open its title defense in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup, Friday, April 4, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Meralco guns for a winning start when it takes on Converge to open its title defense in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup, Friday, April 4, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Failing to get past the quarterfinals in the first two conferences of the season, the Bolts are looking to perform better in the all-Filipino conference – considered the most prestigious among the trifecta of PBA crowns – and where they are the defending champions.
And there should be no better way than starting Meralco’s title-retention bid with a win against Converge in the main attraction of the opening day at 7:30 p.m. Raising the curtain, meanwhile, is Phoenix and Terrafirma which will collide in the first offering at 5:30 p.
m. Chris Newsome, the hero of Meralco’s Game 6 victory that allowed it to cop the Philippine Cup crown last season, is expected to lead the way for his team that also features potent weapons in Bong Quinto, Chris Banchero Aaron Black, Allein Maliksi and Raymond Almazan. The hope for Meralco this time, however, is to have a more complete lineup after it has to deal with injuries to key players in the past two conferences.
Out to foil its plan of opening the conference with a bang are the FiberXers, who, despite falling short anew for their first-ever semifinals appearance as a franchise last conference, should be brimming with confidence heading to the all-Filipino conference. Converge certainly has reasons to believe that it can contend in the Philippine Cup as it boasts a promising core brimming with young talents in Alec Stockton, Schonny Winston, Jordan Heading, Justin Arana and Justine Baltazar. It also made moves in the offseason to boost its bench, adding Rey Suerte through a trade and signing Jhan Nermal from the free agency.
Meanwhile in the opening game, the Dyip are on the mission to make their final conference in the PBA worth it. Led by Stanley Pringle and Terrence Romeo, along with young guns Kemark Carino, Mark Nonoy and Paolo Hernandez, Terrafirma is hoping to tie its number of wins last conference right on its opening game. That’s something the Fuel Masters won’t easily allow, though, with Tyler Tio, Jason Perkins and Javee Mocon all primed to lead the charge for a Phoenix team that is looking to rise from the ashes of its early exit in the Commissioner’s Cup.
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