The Magnolia Chicken Timplados will be seeking revenge this Wednesday, when they share the court with the Phoenix LPG Fuel Masters for the second time this conference. Meanwhile, Phoenix is eyeing to rebound from a loss and go 2-0 in the elimination versus the Hotshots.

Catch this game live on Wednesday,  August 12, 2026 at 7:30 pm, Manila time.

Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots (3-3)

Projected Starting Five:

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

Magnolia appears to be finally hitting its stride. After a 1-3 start to the conference, the Hotshots have picked up two wins in a row, both against quality teams. They defeated the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (88-73) before ripping the Meralco Bolts apart (105-88). 

It seems that the Magnolia that will show up this Wednesday is different than the Hotshots, who stumbled right out of the gate in a 98-86 loss to the Fuel Masters. This time around, Magnolia import KJ Buffen has gained a lot more experience playing PBA brand of basketball. He struggled with 15 points on 6/16 shooting in the first meeting with Phoenix, but he’s now averaging 25.7 points and 11.7 rebounds, while shooting 56.7 percent from behind the arc.

Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters (4-2)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Tyler Tio
  • Kenneth Tuffin
  • Jason Perkins
  • Kai Ballungay
  • B. J. Johnson 

Phoenix is on the reverse Magnolia experience. The Fuel Masters started the conference with three consecutive wins before going 1-2 in their next three outings. In their most recent game, they suffered a 106-1090 defeat at the hands of the Blackwater Bossing.  Phoenix was simply outworked in that contest, with the Bossing outrebounding the Fuel Masters by 15 boards and by nine on the offensive glass.  

That helped Blackwater get 10 more field-goal attempts. Seeing Magnolia again could reignite the fire under the Fuel Masters, who battled from 16 points down to stun the Hotshots in their conference opener. Look for the Fuel Masters to get plenty of freebies as well, as they are second in the league with 26.8 attempts from the foul line per game.

Picks

Spread: Magnolia (-6.0)

Over/Under: Over (191.5)