BATTLE BEGINS AT BIG DOME
Magnolia-tnt clash opens 48th season
Amarquee duel between Magnolia and TNT is set to kick off the 48th season of the PBA just as the Leo Awards gives spotlight to the best individual players of the past year on Sunday, Nov. 5, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The best and the brightest will be feted first in the awarding ceremony at 4 p.m. before the highly anticipated clash between early title favorites usher in the 2023 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at 7 p.m.
The Season 47 Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, Most Improved Player, Mythical Team members and All-defensive team players are all set to be unveiled in what is expected to be another memorable Leo Awards.
Afterwards, a dazzling and colorful opening ceremony unfurls, set to be further illuminated by the beautiful muses and stars of each 12 teams
The Hotshots, who have been making their desire known to end a five-year title drought since the pre-season, hope to make their bid even more apparent with an opening night win against the Tropang Giga.
Head coach Chito Victolero is fully embracing the challenge of finally winning a championship especially with a core that feature Paul Lee, Mark Barroca, Calvin Abueva and the fitagain Ian Sangalang already ripe for another title run.
“The last time we won a championship noong 2018 pa at the last time sa finals eh noong in the bubble. That's two years ago pa. We want to experience the finals again, the championship. The goal is to win the championship,” said Victolero who tapped young import Tyler Bey.
Magnolia certainly has the momentum going into the conference especially after an 11-0 run in the PBA on Tour although that hardly intimidated TNT head coach Jojo Lastimosa.
“The tour is different from the regular season. We know that and they know that, too. This is where the real tournament begins, the tour is just like a televised na larong labas. I’m just saying it like it is, the real season starts on Nov. 5. Let’s see what happens,” said Lastimosa.
TNT, however, was barely a shade of a team that won last season’s
Governors’ Cup with the absence of RR Pogoy and Mikey Williams. The EASL home-and-away tournament, likewise, hasn’t been kind for the Tropang Giga, dropping their two games as they are still groping for form.
Bigger share of the load will be on the shoulder of Calvin Oftana alongside veterans Jayson Castro, Ryan Reyes, Glenn Khobuntin, and Kelly Williams. Rondae Hollisjefferson, after towing TNT to a title last season, is coming back for the Tropang Giga although he is set to miss the season opener as he is still recovering from gastroenteritis.
Playing stand-in on the opening night is former Converge import Quincy Miller who is not entirely new to the team, having played as TNT'S second import in the
EASL.