IT'S Meralco versus Rain or Shine in the 7:30 p.m. mainer Sunday at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo capping the initial week of action in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup.
And it could well be an explosive match pitting two well-built, motivated squads coming in with highly touted imports.
Chris Newsome and his teammates, of course, are the reigning All-Filipino champs while the Elasto Painters have reemerged as contenders with fighting showing at least in the last two conferences.
With the go-ahead one-hander from import Akil Mitchell, the Bolts punched a triumphant conference debut, getting past the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters, 111-109, Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
As a semifinalist in the last Governors' Cup, Rain or Shine is to kick off its Commissioner's Cup campaign, bringing in Deon Thompson, a replacement to Kenny Kadji prior to the start of the tourney.
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Teams still yet to see action are Commissioner's Cup winner TNT, second-placer Barangay Ginebra and losing semifinalist San Miguel Beer.
An edge for Meralco is the fact that Mitchell has been here much earlier, suiting up with the Bolts in their EASL games.
Mitchell has built chemistry with the Bolts, and he looked comfortable with them as he piled up 27 points, 13 rebounds and steals in their close win versus the Fuel Masters.
Thompson should be good as coach Yeng Guiao wouldn't gamble for an early import change if he's not.
He's a product of the North Carolina Tar Heels who's barnstormed Greece, Germany, China, Israel, Serbia, Spain, Lithuania, Japan, Slovenia as an international player.
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An American-Ivorian, the 6-foot-8 forward is a winner, having won championships with the Tar Heels in the 2009 US NCAA as well as in pro leagues in Lithuania, Serbia, Israel, Germany and Slovenia.
With Rain or Shine, he's teaming up with players on the rise including Andrei Caracut, Adrian Nocum, Gian Mamuyac, Caelan Tiongson, Keith Datu, Felix Lemetti, Leonard Santillan, Anton Asistio, Jhonard Clarito and Shaun Ildefonso. (SB)
