The Meralco Bolts will look to get back on track, while the Converge FiberXers get another chance to finally win a game this year, as these teams open up the doubleheader at PhilSports Arena this Sunday.

Catch this game live on Sunday,  April 21 at 3:00 pm, Manila time.

Meralco Bolts (3-4)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Aaron Black
  • Chris Newsome
  • Clifford Hodge
  • Raymond Almazan
  • Jose Mendoza

The Bolts failed to keep their momentum alive following a two-game win streak, as they floundered in a 92-90 loss to sister ball club TNT Tropang Giga on Apr. 7. But after two weeks of break, Meralco must have all the energy it needs to rebound from such a loss. That’s not to mention that Meralco seems to have the perfect punching bag to vent their disappointment on, as the FiberXers have yet to win a game this conference. In addition to that, the Bolts are 2-0 in their last two meetings with Converge and 3-1 overall since 2022. 

The Bolts’ defense should be a big problem for Converge, which is already one of the worst teams on offense. Meralco is allowing just 103.1 points per 100 possessions and only 92.9 points allowed per outing. On the other side of the floor, the Bolts’ top guns like Allein Maliksi and Chris Newsome should find their rhythm against the FiberXers’ defense that’s operating like a broken LRT turnstile with 107.6 points allowed per contest.

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Converge FiberXers (0-8)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Alec Stockton
  • King Caralipio
  • Bryan Santos
  • Justin Arana
  • John De Los Santos

Converge still hasn’t won a game since the calendar flipped to 2024. Dating back to the Commissioner’s Cup, the FiberXers have lost 12 games in a row, including Friday’s 112-103 defeat at the hands of the San Miguel Beermen. For what it’s worth, the FiberXers have been showing some fight of late despite their debacles. 

They have lost each of their last two games by just a single-digit margin. Alec Stockton is also coming off a 36-point eruption on 11/20 shooting from the field and 5/9 from behind the arc in the San Miguel game, showing that there is life in Converge country. Justin Arana also had 18 points on a 7/15 shooting versus the Beermen. Those two will get their numbers most of the time, but the bench of the FiberXers has to put up a better effort to fill the voids that Stockton and Arana couldn’t cover.

Picks

Spread: Meralco Bolts (-12.5)

Over/Under: Over (191.5)

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