The Meralco Bolts and the Magnolia Chicken Timplados meet again this Saturday in Davao del Norte. The Bolts won the first meeting with Magnolia, but the Chicken Timplados have not tasted a loss since. Will the Bolts sweep Magnolia in the elimination phase? Or, will Magnolia hit back at the Bolts?

Catch this game live on Saturday,  September 7 at 6:00 pm, Manila time.

Meralco Bolts (4-1)

Projected Starting Five:

• Chris Banchero
• Chris Newsome
• Kier Quinto
• Allen Durham
• Brandon Bates

The Bolts are feeling it. They are leading Group A with a 4-1 record after winning three games in a row.  The last time they saw action, the Bolts crushed the Converge FiberXers, 118-88. Allen Durham is now 36 years old but he can still put up big numbers. In the Converge game, Durham shot 8/18 from the floor for 27 points. He also was 10/12 from the free-throw line. 

Christopher Banchero led Meralco locals with 24 points while AJ Caram added 16 points. Durham and Banchero were also the top two guys for Meralco when the Bolts defeated the Chicken Timplados last August, 99-94. Durham had 20 points and Banchero made 14 points. Meralco players are showing great chemistry with each other, thanks in part to Durham’s return. Against Converge, the Bolts had 26 assists and 41 field goals.

Magnolia Chicken Timplados (3-2)

Projected Starting Five:

• Jerrick Ahanmisi
• Paul Lee 
• Shabazz Muhammad
• Ian Sangalang
• James Laput

Magnolia has only one loss this conference thus far and that came at the hands of the Bolts. This time around, the Chicken Timplados will have a new import to help them solve the Bolts. Magnolia has already sent home Glenn Robinson III despite the team winning three games in a row since that defeat to Meralco. 

Replacing the former NBA Slam Dunk champion is Shabazz Muhammad, who played for the San Miguel Beermen before. Muhammad can be remembered for his 57-point eruption in an SMB victory over the Bolts during the 2021-22 Governors’ Cup. The Chicken Timplados are coming off a 105-94 win over the NorthPort Batang Pier last Wednesday, with Paul Lee scoring 20 points. Zav Lucero could still be in some zone when he sees Meralco this Saturday after scoring 16 points and grabbing 12 boards versus Converge.

Picks

Spread: Magnolia (-2.5)

Over/Under: Under (194.0)