The PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup schedule is out, and there’s no shortage of marquee games.
Basketball gods are spoiling Filipino fans with non-stop hoops action.
Three days after Gilas Pilipinas competes in window 2 of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers, the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup commences, with a retooled Converge taking on the Terrafirma Dyip to start things off on Nov. 27.
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To make things spicier, the mid-season conference will also feature guest team Hong Kong Eastern.
While we suggest you watch every game of what will be another thrilling conference, here are the games you should definitely not miss.
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Nov. 27: Eastern vs. Phoenix
It goes without saying that fans need to watch how guest team Eastern will fare in their opening game on the 27th.
New is always exciting, after all.
The Hong Kong squad will tackle the Phoenix Fuel Masters at 7:30 p.m. at the PhilSports Arena.
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Nov. 27: Converge vs. Terrafirma Dyip
Converge had an impressive Governors’ Cup campaign where the FiberXers pushed San Miguel to their limit in the best-of-five quarterfinals.
With former Gilas standout Jordan Heading joining them for the mid-season conference, it’s only natural to expect even greater things from the young squad.
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Nov. 28: Blackwater vs. Magnolia
Ricardo Ratliffe is back for some unfinished business with Magnolia.
Before leaving the then Star Hotshots after being naturalized by South Korea, Ratliffe averaged 32.2 points and 20.8 rebounds in the 2017 Commissioner’s Cup.
Right in his first game back, the 6-foot-8 cager is confronted with a tough assignment as the Hotshots take on prolific import George King and the Blackwater Bossing.
Dec. 6: Eastern vs. TNT
Weeks after leading TNT to the Governors’ Cup title, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is back for another tour of duty with the Tropang Giga.
The former Brooklyn Net will be put to a tougher test this conference, though, as Commissioner's Cup features bigger reinforcements including 6-foot-11 Kavell Bigby-Wiliams of NorthPort.
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Dec. 12: NorthPort vs. Converge
The last time NorthPort and Converge squared off at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Batang Pier governor Erick Arejola and FiberXers assistant coach Danny Ildefonso figured in a verbal altercation.
Now we’re not trying to pit the two against each other again, but when there’s no love lost between two teams, one can always expect a nip-and-tuck match.
Dec. 15: Eastern vs. Ginebra
It’s not totally clear yet whether Kobey Lam and Glen Yang are playing for Eastern in the PBA.
But if so, this date will definitely be marked by the former Bay Area Dragons stalwarts.
For context, Ginebra beat the guest team Bay Area in seven games in the 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup Finals, and if Lam and Yang take their Hong Kong act from the EASL to the PBA, this could be an explosive reunion.
Dec. 25: Ginebra vs Magnolia
Magnolia has not been as mighty as it used to be in recent years.
But expect the Hotshots to take it up a notch when up against long-time rival Ginebra, in a Christmas Day game no less.
Jan. 5: San Miguel vs Ginebra
There’s no better way to start the new year than to pit San Miguel and the Gin Kings against each other.
The Beermen are definitely coming in with a chip on their shoulders after falling short against Ginebra in last conference’s semifinals.
As of this writing, San Miguel has not announced which reinforcement it is tapping for the new conference, though.
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Jan. 17: TNT vs Ginebra
It’s the rematch of the Governors’ Cup Finals protagonists. It’s the rematch between Justin Brownlee and Hollis-Jefferson.
After falling short of a title last conference, Brownlee and the Gin Kings will be out to avenge the stinging loss at the hands of the Tropang Giga in six games.
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While nothing big is exactly at stake in this elimination round match, getting that psychological edge before probably meeting again in the playoffs is a good investment.