Meralco should be wary of a desperate San Miguel in this out-of-town game in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup.
The Meralco Bolts are on the cusp of securing a quarterfinal berth as they face the San Miguel Beermen in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Candon City Arena.
Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
Riding high on back-to-back dominant victories over NLEX (105-91) and NorthPort (111-94), Meralco boasts a strong 6-3 record.
A win against San Miguel guarantees the Bolts a spot in the quarterfinals, solidifying their strong midseason performance.
Head coach Luigi Trillo will once again lean on import Akil Mitchell, whose all-around game has been a cornerstone for Meralco's recent success.
Local stars Chris Newsome, Bong Quinto, and Aaron Black have also stepped up, providing the offensive and defensive consistency needed to push the Bolts into contention for a higher playoff seeding.
Meanwhile, the San Miguel Beermen, even with a 4-4 record, present a formidable challenge as defending champions.
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While the Beermen are coming off an inconsistent stretch, their seasoned roster ensures Meralco cannot afford any lapses.
As the Bolts aim to make it three straight wins, their focus will be on maintaining momentum and capitalizing on San Miguel's vulnerabilities.
(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]