Riding high from their 2024 Philippine Cup championship, the Meralco Bolts will help open the PBA’s 49th season with a matchup against the Magnolia Hotshots Chicken Timplados.

Catch the game this Sunday, August 18th, at 7:30 PM.

Meralco Bolts (0-0)

Starting five:

• Christopher Banchero
• Allein Maliksi
• Chris Newsome
• Allen Durham
• Raymond Almazan

The Bolts will go into Season 49 coming off a courageous run, where they rose from an up-and-down, 6-5 campaign in the regular season to capture the 2023-24 Philippine Cup title, upsetting top seed and powerhouse San Miguel Beermen in six games.

Along with that momentum is the return of Allen Durham, who will be the Bolts’ import for the fifth time – he has led the team to multiple finals appearances, albeit all losses. The 36-year-old last played for Meralco in the 2019 Governor’s Cup, putting up 29.6 points, 14.6 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game on 53% shooting (43% from downtown).

Reigning Philippine Cup Finals MVP Chris Newsome, meanwhile, will lead the locals. He posted 15.3 / 6.3 / 4.7 in the previous conference, and is coming in with plenty of confidence. Newsome will be primarily aided by Allein Maliksi and Aaron Black, who had 13.6 and 11.4 PPG in the aforementioned run. Veterans Raymond Almazan and Cliff Hodge, however, should also continue clogging the paint with their presence.

Magnolia Chicken Hotshots Timplados (0-0)

Starting five:

• Paul Lee 
• Joseph Eriobu
• Glenn Robinson III
• Rome Dela Rosa
• Ian Sangalang

The Hotshots also finished 6-5 in the recent conference, but unlike Meralco, they expectedly faded out, losing in the quarterfinals to Barangay Ginebra.

With that, perhaps, changes were made. Long-time guard Jio Jalalon and Abu Tratter were dealt to Northport Batang Pier during the off-season in exchange for promising big man Zavier Lucero, who averaged 12.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.0 blocks per contest in the Philippine Cup. He’ll be in an interesting mix alongside the Magnolia core, namely Paul Lee, Mark Barroca, Ian Sangalang, and Calvin Abueva. It’s a good bunch who should be in a vengeful mode following that underwhelming conference.

Magnolia has tapped former NBA vet Glenn Robinson III (son of the NBA All-Star) as their import. He’s a threat inside and out with great athleticism, so look for him  to assert his game early and often.

PICKS:

Spread: Meralco (+2.5)

Over/Under: Over (187.5)