Magnolia has lost its last two games since trading Calvin Abueva for William Navarro. A win against TNT gives them outright twice-to-beat advantage in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup quarterfinals.
Magnolia aims to stop the bleeding and secure a twice-to-beat bonus as it faces TNT Tropang 5G in a crucial PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup matchup on Friday, June 13.
Gametime is set at 7:30pm at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Now at 7-3, the Hotshots are looking to avoid a three-game slide after suffering back-to-back defeats following the trade that sent Calvin Abueva to NorthPort for William Navarro.
Their latest stumble came at the hands of NLEX, 99-107, a loss that exposed lingering adjustments post-trade.
One more win, though, guarantees Magnolia a top-four finish and the playoff cushion that comes with it.
Meanwhile, TNT—at 6-4—welcomes a sliver of hope. Though a win won’t seal a quarterfinal bonus, it will keep the door open.
The Tropang 5G recently debuted Jordan Heading in their 78-97 loss to Ginebra, where he showed promise with 10 points despite still finding his rhythm.
With both teams eager to tighten up before the playoffs, Friday’s game could be a turning point.
[RELATED STORY: PBA: Jordan Heading is going to be big boost for TNT, says Ginebra's Tim Cone]
(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.]