Alaska and Blackwater have multiple things in common.

Both teams have very young guns, new head coaches, they’re looking to have a strong run this season, and lastly, are off to a rocky start in the 2020 Philippine Cup of the 45^th season of the Philippine Basketball Association.

The Aces are currently 1-2 for the season with their latest win coming from their last game against Magnolia, 87-81, while The Elite started off with two wins over the NorthPort and NLEX in their last game, 98-88, but has suffered a loss at the hands of the Barangay Ginebra.

But tonight, the two teams will have to outlast each other to get some momentum going as they enter the early-mid part of the season.

In the last three games of Alaska, it has been disappointing as the two games between Talk n Text and Meralco.

In the game against the Tropang Giga, the Aces had 17-point lead but blew it in the end, 95-100. While the game against the Bolts, they were dominated from the first to the fourth quarter.

However, in its third game, Alaska finally got its game going and bagged it first win over the Hotshots in a tightly contested game.

The Aces are currently leading the league in rebounding with 15 a game and are the second best three-point shooting team in the league shooting 38%.

The Elite on the other hand has been very impressive at the start of the season. They showed their clutch genes and composure in their first game against the Batang Pier, 96-89, to secure their first win of the season.

Despite losing to the title contenders, the Kings, Blackwater still up a great fight and gave the red squad a run for their money, 99-103.

They immediately got back in the winning column in their last game as the Elite took down the Road Warriors, 98-88.

Blackwater is also one of the best rebounding teams in the league right now, averaging 14.6 a game, which is tied with TNT and NLEX for second.

Both teams are also being led by their young guns.

Don Trollano, Roi Sumang and Mac Belo has been killing it for the Elite.

Trollano is averaging 19.3 points with 10.3 rebounds per outing, Sumang is showing off his scoring prowess averaging 14.6 points with 4.6 rebounds and four assists while shooting 56% at the field, Belo is not far back either averaging 13 points and five rebounds.

The Aces got some studs as well. Jeron Teng is leading the way with 15.6 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 58% at the field and 67% from the three-point area, Abu Tratter productive in the the paint as he’s putting up 11 points, six rebounds with one steal per outing and lastly, Robbie Herndon has been effective as well with 10.3 points, eight rebounds and two steals per game.

Both young teams have been showing great promise in the start of the season. Both teams are grinding and fighting with one team looking to bounce back and the other looking to start a string of Ws. Either way both are looking to get the win over the other to get some momentum going as the season progress.

The 6:45 p.m. Match-up of today’s double-header is surely a must watch for all PBA fans.