The Magnolia Chicken Timplados and the Meralco Bolts will share the court for the second time this conference. The Hotshots won the last meeting, but can they pull it off again? Or, will the Bolts find the right system to avoid another loss?

Catch this game live on Friday,  August 7, 2026 at 7:30 pm, Manila time.

Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots (2-3)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Jerom Lastimosa
  • Javi Gómez de Liaño
  • KJ Buffen
  • Rome dela Rosa
  • Ian Sangalang

Consistency is what Magnolia is also after in this matchup versus the Bolts. The Hotshots have yet to win consecutive games in the conference, but they will get the chance to do it Friday, thanks to their 88-73 victory over the Batangay Ginebra San Miguel on Sunday. 

Zav Lucero was fantastic in that contest, as he finished with 24 points on 10/16 shooting from the field, while DJ Buffen had 23 points on 9/19 shooting. Meanwhile, Ian Sangalang came off the bench and added 16 points and seven rebounds for the Hotshots. 

Magnolia is in better shape than the Bolts, whom Magnolia also defeated in July, 112-98. Lucero and Buffen combined for 46 points in that Magnolia win, with defense also playing a big factor, as the Hotshots turned Meralco’s 14 turnovers into 18 points (+10).

Meralco Bolts (2-4)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Jason Brickman
  • Chris Newsome
  • Bong Quinto
  • Cliff Hodge
  • Antonio Hester

Meralco started the conference winning three of four games, but since then, the Bolts have gone winless in three consecutive outings. That stretch includes their 85-83 loss at the hands of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters last Sunday. 

The close loss to Rain or Shine could have been avoided by the Bolts if they shot just a little better. They made only 36.6% of their attempts from the field. Antonio Hester didn’t look like he was a throwback import with his 15 points on a salty 4/14 shooting in 35 minutes. Chris Newsome had 16 points but also needed 16 shots to get there.  

Meralco is just 10th thus far in the league with a 48.4 eFG%. But it is also worth noting that Hester had 28 points on 8/14 shooting in the previous meeting with the Hotshots. Meralco also outscored the Hotshots in transition with 23 fastbreak points (+17).

Picks

Spread: Magnolia (-2.5)

Over/Under: Over (192.5)