Last season, San Miguel and Magnolia competed for the Commissioner’s Cup, with the Beermen winning after six games in February 2024.

This season, however, is a stark difference, with the two teams fighting for survival as they face off for the first time in the 49th Season, which promises to be as fierce as their previous championship duel.

San Miguel leads the two teams by a slim margin, sitting eighth with a 3-4 win-loss record to Magnolia’s 3-5 record. The top eight teams will advance to the quarterfinals, emphasizing the importance of the encounter. 

The Hotshots will have one day of preparation before facing the defending champion Beermen on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. At the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

And, just like Magnolia’s 89-84 victory over Terrafirma last Friday, Victolero noted Magnolia will face another struggle.

The Hotshots may have the psychological advantage, with the Beermen coming off two defeats, including a 93-81 loss to Barangay Ginebra last Sunday.

San Miguel will also be coming off a road loss in the EASL to the Hiroshima Dragonflies of the Japan B.League, 94-63.

Zavier Lucero understands Magnolia’s need to play with urgency in the contest, with the Hotshots on the verge of a quarterfinal position.

On the other hand, experience simply triumphed.

It’s how Converge coach Franco Atienza assessed his team’s close 98-96 loss to TNT on Saturday night, which ended its four-game winning streak in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

The Tropang Giga played steadily down the stretch of the closely contested game at Ninoy Aquino Stadium, keeping the FiberXers scoreless in the last 4:46.

During that span, they went on a 7-0 run home, including a fadeaway jumper by import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson that put them ahead for good.

The reigning Governors’ Cup champions also blocked Alec Stockton’s game-tying basket in the final 23 seconds before forcing a shot clock violation on the FiberXers 14 seconds later to secure their fourth straight victory and a 4-2 record.

Shooting guard RR Pogoy led all TNT locals with 22 points, including 5-of-9 three-pointers, while Rey Nambatac and Calvin Oftana combined for 25 points.

Hollis Jefferson, the two-time Best Import winner, led the squad with 31 points and 11 rebounds.

Jayson Castro, TNT’s heart and soul, scored only two points but was a consistent presence in the TNT backcourt down the stretch.

Although the setback occurred on his birthday, Atienza stated that the experience of going toe-to-toe with a champion team like TNT in a playoff setting was surely something the young FiberXers embraced as part of their squad’s development.

“Kailangan naming matuto. And part ito ng growing stage nila (FiberXers),” Franco praised Converge’s determination to come back from an early 12-point hole.