With hardly a breather, Magnolia and San Miguel Beer proceed to the finale, starting an exciting duel of a band of defensive warriors versus a unit of lethal offensive bombers.
The Hotshots do the Last Dance with the Beermen, barely 48 hours after disposing of the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters in their semis showdown Wednesday.
Coach Jorge Gallent and his troops had the luxury of some rest after completing a three-game sweep of Barangay Ginebra Sunday. It could be an advantage at least in the series kickoff, but the Beermen are nonetheless bracing for a protracted battle against a team which has been on a great ride all the way from the preseason On Tour series.
With the playoff seeding running true to form, the PBA Season 48 Commissioner's Cup is boiling down to a face-off between the top seed and the second seed - an interesting dispute unwrapping at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.
The Hotshots have been amazing with a remarkable 24-2 showing from the preseason. But the Beermen are nothing short of being impressive too, riding the momentum of a nine-game romp entering the finals.
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Defense is the name of the game for coach Chito Victolero and his troops while offense will not come short for the Beermen featuring prolific import Bennie Boatwright and local guns led by June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez.
In the elims, Magnolia was the top defensive team, allowing only 88.5 points a game. The Hotshots are also tops in the business of rebounding.
San Miguel, meanwhile, was No. 2 in offense, averaging 107 points and No. 1 in field goal percentage.
Last Dec. 10, the Hotshots beat the Beermen, 94-90, with defense prevailing over offense. Magnolia held SMB to its conference low.
However, Fajardo was still recuperating from an injury then while Boatwright had yet to arrive to take over from Ivan Aska.
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And so they're duking it out in an entirely new game as both teams pursue chase of the throne vacated by the Barangay Ginebra Kings.
San Miguel seeks to reclaim the Commissioner's Cup crown it last won in 2019 with import Chris McCullough while Magnolia eyes a return to the throne it last occupied in the 2018 Governors Cup.
An interesting side battle is that of Victolero versus Gallent. The two were teammates during their playing years with Stag Pale Pilsen in the defunct PBL. (SB)
