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Three SMC teams, Phoenix seek to draw first blood in PBA semis

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Kennedy Caacbay, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="The Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters celebrate a play against the Meralco Bolts in the quarterfinals of the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner" s="" Cup.="" PBA="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2024/sports/01/23/012324_phoenix-super-lpg_pba.jpg"/><figcaption>The Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters celebrate a play against the Meralco Bolts in the quarterfinals of the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner&#x27;s Cup. <em>PBA Images. </em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA – And then there were four.</p><p>Three franchise teams of San Miguel Corporation—Magnolia, San Miguel, and Barangay Ginebra—and Phoenix Super LPG are set to duke it out at the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday to claim a headstart in the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner&#x27;s Cup semifinals.</p><p>Opening the curtains at 4 p.m. are the Hotshots, who first claimed a semis berth after eliminating eighth seed TNT Tropang Giga, and the Fuel Masters, who clinched their first semis appearance since 2020.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/17/24/pba-magnolia-claims-first-semis-berth-at-tnts-expense">PBA: Magnolia claims first semis berth at TNT&#x27;s expense</a></li></ul><p>The Jamike Jarin-mentored squad nearly succumbed to Meralco after squandering an 18-point lead, but they were able to push back the pesky Bolts on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.</p><p>&quot;Experience is the best teacher, we got a lot of experience going into the semifinals, and I think they’ve matured a lot in this series,&quot; the Phoenix coach said as they set their sights on the next round.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/21/24/phoenix-avoids-meltdown-against-meralco-clinches-semis-spot">PBA: Phoenix avoids another meltdown against Meralco, clinches semis spot</a></li></ul><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2937115" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>Magnolia maestro Chito Victolero then said both teams—Phoenix and Meralco—deserved to win.</p><p>However, the Hotshots are more focused on recovery, Victolero said, as they were gifted more rest days as the Fuel Masters needed a rubber match to fend off the Bolts.</p><p>&quot;Right now, siguro we need to rest. And kailangan lang namin magkaroon ng magandang preparation kung sino man do&#x27;n sa dalawa,&quot; Victolero then said after their quarterfinal game against TNT.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/18/24/pba-chito-victolero-asked-phoenix-or-meralco">PBA: Chito Victolero asked about preferred semis matchup: Phoenix or Meralco?</a></li></ul><p>&quot;Gusto ko(ng kalaban)? Wala. Kahit sino. Mahirap mamili. Basta importante, makapag-prepare kami nang maayos. Deserving naman kahit sino sa dalawa,&quot; the coach said, who had one championship with the Purefoods-Magnolia franchise.</p><p>After getting swept in last year&#x27;s Governor&#x27;s Cup semis, the Beermen are seeking revenge in their series against Ginebra.</p><p>Tip-off of the Ginebra-SMB encounter is at 8 p.m.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/19/24/ginebra-cruises-past-northport-sets-up-semis-duel-with-smb">Ginebra cruises past NorthPort, sets up semis duel with SMB</a></li></ul><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/19/24/pba-cruz-boatwright-lead-smb-vs-ros-to-book-semis-ticket">Cruz, Boatwright lead SMB vs. ROS to semis ticket</a></li></ul><p>SMB and the Gin Kings had 8-3 cards by the end of the single-round robin eliminations, both riding on a winning streak.</p><p>With PBA seven-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo coming back for SMB just in time this month, Ginebra coach Tim Cone said he is concerned about San Miguel&#x27;s twin towers–Bennie Boatwright and Fajardo.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/07/24/pba-june-mar-fajardo-set-for-return-to-san-miguel">PBA: June Mar Fajardo set for return to San Miguel</a></li></ul><p>&quot;It&#x27;s a dilemma all teams will have to figure it out and we&#x27;re going to try and figure it out. If we can&#x27;t, we&#x27;re not going to win the series,&quot; said Cone.</p><p>Boatwright has averages of 40.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists compared to Ginebra&#x27;s Tony Bishop with 23.6 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists.</p><p>Both semifinal series are best-of-five.</p><div><strong>– With reports from Rom Anzures, ABS-CBN News </strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/elQgP4a7VLY?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

Three SMC teams, Phoenix seek to draw first blood in PBA semis

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Three SMC teams, Phoenix seek to draw first blood in PBA semis

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 24, 2024 02:01 AM PHT

Read More:

Basketball

PBA

PBA Commissioner’s Cup

PBA Season 48

Magnolia

Magnolia Hotshots

Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots

San Miguel

San Miguel Beermen

Barangay Ginebra

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