JUST over two weeks after their clash in the season opener, the Meralco Bolts and the Magnolia Hotshots face off in a rematch in a PBA Governors' Cup road showcase in Panabo City Saturday.
But there will be no Allen Durham-Glenn Robinson Faceoff II as the Hotshots have signed up Shabazz Muhammad as import replacement.
Muhammad has had a previous PBA stint with the San Miguel Beermen in 2022. He was the 14th overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft with playing stints with the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Milwaukee Bucks.
Though short in preparation and in personnel, the Bolts topped the Hotshots, 99-94, in their Aug. 18 setto, highlighting the Season 49 inaugurals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
And the Bolts ride the momentum of a three-game streak as against the Hotshots' back-to-back triumphs as they slug it out anew at 6 p.m. over at the Panabo Multi-Purpose Tourism, Sports and Cultural Center, the third Saturday road showdown in the tourney.
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The game marks the start of the second round of the elims for both teams.
Meralco shared Group A top spot with TNT at 4-1 in the first round, with Magnolia coming at third a game behind at 3-2. NorthPort and Converge are at 2-3 as Terrafirma is at the tail-end without a single win.
Needless to say, the Bolts and the Hotshots are in good positions to make the Group A top four, comprising qualifiers to the crossover quarterfinals versus the top four from Group B currently paced by Rain or Shine at 4-1.
Coach Luigi Trillo's troops and coach Chito Victolero's crew eye getting more buffer in their Panabo tiff featuring the Durham-Muhammad collision.
Durham looked a bit out of shape in his PBA return but the three-time Best Import awardee was still good enough to help the Bolts past the Hotshots and into pole position in the first round.
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And he's good on his vow that he would get better as the tournament goes on. His numbers continue to grow as they continue to pile up wins, sustaining charge from Meralco's title run in the last Philippine Cup.(SB)
