The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel is scheduled for a head-to-head game against the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok at 6:45 P.M. on December 25, 2021 live from Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
It’s the battle royale once more in Asia’s first professional basketball league and that’s everybody’s favorite, the “Manila Classico”. It’s the Gin Kings against the Hotshots and this time around, they’re back in their familiar battleground with expected basketball fans in attendance.
Apart from the league has returned to the Smart Araneta Coliseum to play its games, fans are now also allowed to watch their favorite basketball matches after the government gave their green signal.
Of course, the main characters of PBA duels are their players but perhaps one of the important ingredients why each match gets more exciting are the cheers coming from the crowd.
Both coaches of each side already knew this and understand that’s one of the sources of the motivation of their players.
“The players are super motivated to play against each other and they know how important it is to the fans,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone. “I don’t need to motivate my players. Because of the hype, the fans will motivate them already,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero.
Apart from the famed “Manila Classico”, the pre-game or most likely, the half-time will have a historic show as two of Magnolia’s players will be honored.
The jerseys of Marc Pingris and Peter June Simon will be given an official retirement this evening.
Though tonight’s party seems tuned to Magnolia’s side, expect that the Gin Kings are going to spoil the party similar to what they did a few nights ago.
Against Phoenix Super LPG Fuelmasters, LA Tenorio came big and was big-time. One three-pointer to push the game to overtime and another one in the extended period to completely shut the door. That victory gave them their third win this conference and currently looking good to defend their crown especially since Justin Brownlee is also back in team NSD’s helm.
Though that this match is not the Finals battle but securing a victory on this special day means so much.
“It’s a game you want to win because it certainly ruins your Christmas when you don’t win it. You lose and you go home extra sad on Christmas Day,” said Cone.
For Magnolia, they too are on a winning mode and wanted to stretch their victory to three while keeping no defeat in this ongoing season-ending tournament.
In their last game versus the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, coach Victolero isn’t impressed how his boys performed in the opening quarter. We all know that one of the tactics of Magnolia to win ballgames is their defense.
In the first quarter, though the Hotshots were leading by four points (34-31), coach Victolero stressed a particular figure on the stat sheet which isn’t the identity of his squad.
“That’s not our defense,” said Victolero. “‘Yung energy and aggressiveness on both ends of the floor ‘yun ‘yung nagbigay sa amin ng konting edge sa game,” added Victolero.
Tonight, fans will witness once again the match-up of defense versus offense.