AS Christmas Day treat to its loyal fans, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) will hold the fan favorite “Manila Clasico” match between Barangay Ginebra and Magnolia in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on December 25 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Ginebra-Magnolia encounter will actually serve as the other half of the Chistmas Day doubleheader that will also feature All-Filipino champion Meralco and Converge FiberX.

This is actually the first time in three years that two of the league’s most popular teams will battle it out on Christmas Day.

The Mike Harris-led Hotshots defeated the Kings, 117-94, in their previous Christmas Day encounter in the 2021 PBA Governors’ Cup also held at the Big Dome.

In last year’s Christmas Day offering, Ginebra rallied to beat an import-less TNT side, 86-78.

As usual, Ginebra will parade the old reliable Justin Brownlee as its import.

A three-time PBA Best Import awardee, Brownlee led the Kings to runner-up finish to the TNT Tropang Giga in the PBA Governors’ Cup.

Magnolia, on the other hand, will field balik-import Ricardo Ratliffe.

The 6-8 Mr. Ratliffe has spent most of his time in Korea in between his previous tenure with the Hotshots in 2016 and 2017.

Ratliffe had a solid Korean Basketball League career, winning three titles and three Player of the Year honors.

Last July, he suited up for Changsa Wantian Yongsheng in China’s National Basketball League before reuniting with the Hotshots.

After the Christmas Day games, the league takes a two-week break for the holiday season before returning to action on Jan. 5.

Less than three weeks after the PBA Governors’ Cup title showdown between TNT and Ginebra, the PBA returns on Nov. 27 with Converge taking on Terrafirma Dyip at 5 p.m., and Phoenix Super LPG battling guest team Hong Kong Eastern at 7:30 on opening night at the PhilSports Arena.

Like the previous PBA Governors’ Cup, the mid-season conference schedule will see teams play five days a week at most with the first game still tipping off at 5 p.m. and the second game at 7:30 p.m.

The compressed schedule in the import-flavored conference is aimed at giving Gilas Pilipinas more time for the third window of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers in February.

The PBA also announced two out-of-town games for the Commissioner’s Cup.

The first out-of-town game will feature Converge-Ginebra showdown in Batangas on Dec. 21 and San Miguel Beer-Meralco encounter in Candon, Ilocos Sur on Jan. 18.

Games Nov. 27

(Philsports Arena)
5 p.m. — Converge vs. Terrafirma Dyip
7:30 p.m. — Phoenix Super LPG vs. Hong Kong Eastern

AUTHOR PROFILE

Robert Andaya