Beermen, Bolts clash in special face-off

MANILA, Philippines — Both Meralco and San Miguel Beer can’t underscore enough the magnitude of their matchup in today’s PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup eliminations.

For starters, the game marks their first face-off in the league’s centerpiece conference since the Bolts clinched their maiden crown at the Beermen’s expense in April last year.

Secondly, the two proud squads reignite their rivalry on the very day the PBA turns 50, at the hardwood of the old mecca of basketball in Manila, the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

There’s a touch of nostalgia in the 7:30 p.m. gig, too, with the pacesetting Bolts (2-0) and the Beermen (1-0) reporting for action clad in jerseys that their respective ball clubs from the old MICAA days in the 1970s used to wear.

“This is a very prestigious game,” said SMB coach Leo Austria.

“We’re excited, we’re honored that we’re playing San Miguel as part of our 50th year,” said Meralco counterpart Luigi Trillo.

The protagonists in the main fare following the 5 p.m. curtain raiser between Magnolia (1-0) and Converge (1-1) look to pick up from their early success in the five-day-old tournament.

The Bolts hacked out a come-from-behind 91-89 nail-biter over the FiberXers then routed Terrafirma, 118-80, for the early lead. The Beermen bared their fangs in a 98-89 opening verdict over NLEX.

Notes: Grand slam-seeking TNT Tropang 5G signed up free agent Simon Enciso to shore up its Jayson Castro-less backcourt unit. It would be a homecoming for Enciso, who suited up for the PLDT franchise for one season before taking his act to his most recent team, San Miguel. Enciso is tipped to provide relief to chief playmaker Rey Nambatac in the absence of Castro, who is out on a season-ending injury.