A BLOCKBUSTER Easter Sunday bill, featuring the Manila Clasico in the mainer, marks the resumption of the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Barangay Ginebra and Magnolia slug it out at 6:15 p.m. succeeding the 3 p.m. tiff between San Miguel Beer and Phoenix Super LPG - a marquee double-header showcasing the four semifinalists in the last Commissioner's Cup.
It promises slam-bang action in a big return by the regular PBA games from the All-Star and Lenten breather.
The Ginebra-Magnolia clash is expected to be the usual Manila Clasico with both sides coming out with a great desire and determination to pull one over the other.
From a humbling shutout at the hands of the Beermen in the Commissioner's Cup semis, the Gin Kings scored back-to-back wins in the all-Filipino tourney before being stopped on their tracks by the Meralco Bolts, 91-73.
Sponsored content: The Hotshots, for their part, were also off to a triumphant start in the tourney, blasting the Converge FiberXers, 106-75, on March 16 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, coming from a runner-up finish to the Beermen in the Commissioner's Cup.
Magnolia coach Chito Victolero felt good with the victory though having to take a long break again before resuming play.
Ginebra coach Tim Cone and his aces shook off their loss to Meralco with their fun stint in the recent All-Star Weekend in Bacolod.
A little disappointment for Japeth Aguilar and his team was bungling what had looked like a won ball game and settling for a 140-all deadlock with Mark Barroca and All-Star teammates.
From a weeklong break after the Bacolod All-Star Game, the Kings and the Hotshots return to serious play, each side looking to build momentum for their respective bids.
Sponsored content: The Hotshots, of course, want to keep a clean slate while the Kings look to bounce back from their loss to the Bolts.
And fireworks are expected in their Easter Sunday face-off.(SB)
