The PBA Commissioner’s Cup gets its second play date rolling later today with an intriguing double-header, as the Magnolia Hotshots take on the Phoenix Fuel Masters and the Blackwater Bossing face the NLEX Road Warriors. With new imports, coaching changes, and roster shakeups across the board, these two games promise plenty of storylines that could shape the early trajectory of the conference. Here are four key things to watch as the action unfolds.
1. Sedrick Barefield vs. Robert Bolick
There’s no question Sedrick Barefield and Robert Bolick are two of the best playmakers the PBA has at the moment, and they’ll be taking the court later as their respective teams open their Commissioner’s Cup campaigns. Barefield (19.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in the Philippine Cup) and Bolick (18.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 8.4 assists) will have the ball in their hands a lot later and are expected to play major roles.
2. Rejigged Road Warriors
NLEX, for the past couple of conferences, has been in some sort of basketball purgatory—competitive but not good enough to be contenders. Things could change in the Commissioner’s Cup if new acquisitions Schonny Winston and Kevin Racal can step in and provide Bolick the support he needs. Needless to say, today is Day 1 of the Road Warriors’ new future.
3. Charles Tiu Era Begins
The Fuel Masters made a splash between the Philippine Cup and Commissioner’s Cup by making a change at the very top, bringing in Charles Tiu to lead the way. Tiu is an accomplished coach with prior PBA experience as an assistant, and now he’s been thrust into the spotlight as the man at the helm at Phoenix. He’ll want nothing less than a win to get the Charles Tiu era off to a winning start.
4. Nuni Omot Takeover
Magnolia brought in South Sudanese cager Nuni Omot as a last-minute replacement for Terrell Soares-Brown, so he’s already behind the eight ball, so to speak, in terms of adjustment and preparation. But he’s also bringing impressive credentials and a FIBA career that suggests a high-caliber import. That’s exactly what the Hotshots need, and they’re hoping to see that level right from the very start.
PBA Commissioner’s Cup Action
Today’s double-header will be played at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The first game pitting Blackwater and NLEX tips off at 5:00 p.m., followed by Magnolia taking on Phoenix at 7:30 p.m.
