The PBA will be holding a rare Tuesday twin bill later as the Commissioner’s Cup continues. Seeing action will be the Magnolia Hotshots, Terrafirma Dyip, Meralco Bolts, and TNT Tropang 5G, and these are the storylines to watch out for:
1. Can Mubashar Ali Bounce Back?
A big reason Terrafirma zoomed to the top of the Commissioner’s Cup for a while back was the play of import Mubashar Ali. But in the Dyip’s loss to the Phoenix Fuel Masters, he got clamped down and was ineffective the whole game. While he did have 17 rebounds, 13 points won’t cut it for a team still short on big-time talent. Needless to say, Ali will have to bring his A-game against Magnolia.
2. Is Clint Chapman Really the Answer for Magnolia?
Clint Chapman’s 39-point, 15-rebound debut in Magnolia’s win over the Macau Black Knights had to be all sorts of encouraging. Aside from the prolific numbers, Chapman also seems to play the interior, which is exactly what the Hotshots need in this Commissioner’s Cup. Then again, Macau doesn’t really pose much of a threat and is solely a jump-shooting team. Ali and the scrappy Dyip might prove to be a better test.
3. What More Can Bol Bol Do?
Bol Bol has been as good as advertised, and he was superb in TNT’s big win over the San Miguel Beermen with 34 points and 18 rebounds on 14-for-28 shooting. What’s scary is that he seems to be getting better as he continues to get acclimated to the PBA brand of basketball. That’s why it’s a must-see to find out what else Bol has in store as Commissioner’s Cup action intensifies.
4. Is Meralco’s Defense Up for the TNT Challenge?
Meralco is one of the better defensive teams in the league, and there are times the Bolts can clamp down if they really zone in on that side of the ball. They’ll need to be on-point on defense later with Bol and the explosive Tropa up next. Marvin Jones, a mobile 7-footer, will have his hands full, in particular, as he and Cliff Hodge will likely spend the most time trying to contain Bol. If Meralco wants to flex its contender status in the Commissioner’s Cup, what better time than now, right?
PBA Commissioner’s Cup Action
Today’s Commissioner’s Cup double-header will be played at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The first game will pit Terrafirma against Magnolia, with the former looking to bounce back from a loss and the latter going for back-to-back wins. TNT takes on Meralco in the second game, with both teams coming off wins.
