For the first time in its 45-year-history, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) had four games in one day.
After the top basketball league in the country took a break from last Friday until yesterday, it made a huge return by putting up the first of five quadruple header days in the revised schedule of the 45th Season of the PBA.
Here's the AMENDED 2020 PhilCup Elims Schedule from November 3 to November 11, 2020
— PBA (@pbaconnect) November 1, 2020
*As of of November 1, 2020#PBATuloyAngLaban pic.twitter.com/ajLB7XAMsc
On the first quadruple header of the league, the games did not disappoint.
SMB-Blackwater went neck and neck
The first game of the day took place at 10 a.m.
And right off the bat, the PBA Bubble at AUF (Angeles University Foundation) Sports Arena & Cultural Center in Pampanga witnessed a tightly contested game with the defending champions San Miguel being pushed to their limits by the young, gritty and talented Blackwater.
The Elite had early control of the game but, as usual, the veteran Beermen kept it steady and were able to get back in the game.
The game reached the overtime period and in the closing quarter, both teams made big shots and big plays down the stretch. It was Chris Ross and Mo Tautuaa who stepped up big for San Miguel and took the W for the team, 90-88.
Ross finished with eight points, eight rebounds and three assists while Tautuaa was named as the Best Player of the Game with 26 points, 14 rebounds with two steals and a block.
The Beermen improved to 5-2 while the Elite slid down to 2-4.
The Beast vs The New Beast
In the second game, it was a match-up fans have been dying to see once again.
Terrafirma’s CJ Perez and Phoenix’s Calvin Abueva met for the first time since Abueva’s return.
The game in general was a lopsided affair with the Fuel Masters taking a blowout win, 116-94.
But despite the score, the marquee match-up of the man they call “The Beast” and the man they proclaimed as “The New Beast” of the PBA did not disappoint.
Abueva finished with a triple-double of 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists with three steals but Perez went down swinging as he put up 32 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
Despite having the spotlight directed on the two forward superstars, Matthew Wright stole the show and put 33 points with four rebounds, six assists and five steals. He also knocked down six three-pointers for the game.
Phoenix improved to 5-3 while Dyip are still winless with 0-6.
TNT back on the winning track in a dominant fashion
The fourth game saw pure dominance by Talk ‘n Text (TNT) as they took a wire to wire win over NorthPort, 112-87.
Right off the gates, the Tropang Giga established that it’s their show tonight and quickly built a 30-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Five guys scored over 10 points for TNT. RR Pogoy had 15 points, while Troy Rosario ended with 14 points, Almond Vosotoros and Jay Washington had 10 points each off the bench.
Ray Parks led the Tropang Giga with 22 points and 10 rebounds and was named the Best Player of the game.
TNT improved to 6-1, while the Batang Pier continues to struggle as they slide down to 1-5.
Kings and Aces close the show
The day started off with a tightly contested game, that’s why it was just fitting to end the day with another one.
The Barangay Ginebra and Alaska put up a great game to close the show.
The Aces had control of the game in the first two quarters but slowly and surely the Kings came back in the game and were able to pull out the win in the fourth quarter, 87-81.
Stanley Pringle reminded everyone why he is “The Man” as he finished with 31 points along with six rebounds. Scottie Thompson had a double-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds with six assists and two steals. Japeth Aguilar chipped in 14 points, six rebounds and two blocks in the game.
Barangay Ginebra improved to 5-2 while Alaska is still in the middle of the pack with 5-4.