By REYNALD MAGALLON
A new chapter to the storied rivalry is set to unfold on Sunday, Nov. 19 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Both Magnolia and Barangay Ginebra are locked and loaded for the 2023 PBA Commissioner’s Cup edition of their Manila Clasico with a new set of characters poised to take the lead role in the showdown expected to attract a huge crowd once again.
The Hotshots and the Kings, are for one, already warmed up for their highly-anticipated collision at 6:15 p.m. after picking up morale-boosting wins on Friday, Nov. 17.
Serving as a fitting appetizer to the marquee duel is a match between two strong contenders in Meralco which is looking to keep its pristine and the San Miguel Beer which is still searching for its first win in the 3 p.m. affair.
All eyes however will be on the main event which for the first time in seven years won’t be featuring Ginebra import Justin Brownlee who was one of the protagonists in the classic rivalry.
In his stead is new Kings reinforcement Tony Bishop who is expected to add color to the huge collision especially after showing that he is fitting in nicely to the system of head coach Tim Cone.
The multi-titled mentor was initially worried about the team’s chemistry especially without guys like Jamie Malonzo and LA Tenorio and the addition of new players in Bishop and Maverick Ahanmisi.
All the worries, however, were easily washed away by Ginebra’s masterful 100-86 win over Converge to jumpstart its title-retention bid.
“That was really our concern, how sharp we would be coming into our first game. Now we got a quick turnaround, we have to go after the undefeated Magnolia team for a long long time,” said Cone.
“We couldn’t look past this game to the next game but now that this win is done we can now focus on Magnolia,” he added.
Safe to say, the new look Kings will be getting their first real test against the Hotshots who have yet to taste defeat ever since the pre-season.
For Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero, with or without Brownlee, Ginebra remains a dangerous team to face especially with the crowd on its side.
“Clasico is Clasico. We expect a very hard game on Sunday. We expect a big crowd. This is a player’s game on sunday we will give it to the players and to the fans na maenjoy nila yung game kasi both teams will go hard,” said the one-time champion coach.
Import Tyler Bey will be leading the charge for the 3-0 Hotshots which will also have the likes of Paul Lee, Mark Barroca and the fit-again Ian Sangalang to carry the share of the load.
Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar and Christian Standhardinger will be the usual suspects for the Kings who are gunning for their second-straight win in as many games.
