BARANGAY Ginebra will play Magnolia on Christmas Day, a matchup designed by the PBA to be a blockbuster game in the Commissioner's Cup in the most festive day of Christendom.
Dubbed as the Manila Clasico, the rivalry between the sister teams takes center stage on Dec. 25 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum as the main treat of a double header. Game is set at 7:30 p.m.
Converge and reigning Philippine Cup champion Meralco face each other in the first game at 5 p.m.
This will be the first time in three years the Kings and Hotshots take on each other on Christmas Day since Magnolia led by import Mike Harris thrashed Justin Brownlee and the Kings, 117-94, in 2021, also at the Big Dome.
Brownlee is again at the helm of the Kings’ campaign in the mid-season conference after a runner-up finish to TNT in the recent Governors’ Cup.
Meanwhile, returning import Ricardo Ratliffe will reinforce the Hotshots.
In last year’s Dec. 25 offering, Ginebra came from behind and nipped an import-less TNT side, 86-78.
And in 2023, Ginebra scored a 96-81 win on Christmas Day against guest team Bay Area Dragons in Game 1 of the Commissioner’s Cup finals at the Mall of Asia Arena.
