The Blackwater Bossing look to exploit the absence of Cliff Hodge as they tangle with defending champion Meralco Bolts in the PBA Philippine Cup.
After a long break and back-to-back losses, the Blackwater Bossing look to reignite their Philippine Cup campaign as they take on the Meralco Bolts in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup on Wednesday, May 21.
The match starts at 5 p.m. at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Blackwater, currently 1-4, hasn’t seen action since May 7, when it absorbed a 120-106 loss to Rain or Shine.
Despite the defeat, the Bossing showed flashes of offensive brilliance but failed to match the Elasto Painters’ firepower and defensive intensity.
The team now gets a golden opportunity to get back on track against a shorthanded Meralco squad (3-5) reeling from two straight losses and missing key forward Cliff Hodge, who is serving a one-game suspension for a hard foul on Magnolia’s Zavier Lucero.
With Hodge sidelined, Blackwater should look to exploit the interior gaps and push the tempo against a Bolts team trying to regain stability.
Expect Blackwater to lean on its young core as it tries to pull off a crucial win and keep its playoff hopes alive.
(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]