The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) caps the season of joy with two interesting games in the second of its back-to-back schedule for the Christmas holiday.
San Miguel battles Terrafirma in the 4:00 p.m. curtain-raiser at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. TNT Tropang Giga faces Rain or Shine in the 6:45 p.m. Governors’ Cup main game to cap off the league’s first-ever Dec. 26 playdate.
On Christmas Day (Dec. 25), the league held its first doubleheader in four years.
Phoenix was set to face NLEX in the opener followed by the much-awaited clash pitting Barangay Ginebra against Magnolia.
The two-day special is billed ‘Season of Joy’ which the league is hosting in partnership with the local government of Quezon City led by Mayor Joy Belmonte.
The festivities are in line with Belmonte’s Pamaskong Handog treat to the people of Quezon City as well as a fitting tribute to the city’s frontliners, who continue to risk their lives and sacrifice their time and effort to make the local government’s vaccination program and observance of health protocols a great success.
San Miguel is currently on a two-game winning streak and is 2-2 in the standings They face a Terrafirma side that dropped its last two outings and totes a 1-3 record.
The Dyip lost veteran guard Alex Cabagnot to a torn Achilles injury in their last outing against NLEX. However, they are expected to parade a new acquisition Ed Daquioag who they acquired in a Christmas Eve trade with Blackwater in exchange for Justin Melton.
Rain or Shine and TNT meanwhile, try to get back on the winning track after coming off losses from their previous games.
The Elasto Painters are also at 2-2 while the Tropang Giga is just a notch below at 1-2.
The league will take a nine-day break before action in the season-ending meet that resumes on Jan. 5.
In between, the first ever grand finals of the PBA 3×3 Lakas Ng Tatlo will be held on Dec. 29 also at the Big Dome. (PBA) – bny
