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| PBA (file photo) |
By Ivan Saldajeno
MANILA--After the successful staging of the FIBA OQT this past week, Pinoy basketball fans can now turn to the PBA as the league announced the first 11 playdates of the season-ending Governor's Cup.
In a copy of the schedule for the rest of July obtained by Dugout Philippines on Monday night, Mahindra and Star will face off in the nightcap of the opening day doubleheader at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Friday.
Preceding the 7 p.m. clash between the Enforcers and the Hotshots is the 4:15 p.m. match-up between the Meralco Bolts and the Phoenix Fuel Masters.
Action then shifts to the home of the FIBA OQT, the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay on Saturday, where Ginebra debuts against GlobalPort at 6:45 p.m., right after the 4:30 p.m. game between Blackwater and NLEX.
Defending champs San Miguel Beermen then begin their own quest for back-to-back titles on Sunday night at the Big Dome against the Fuel Masters at 4 p.m., preceding a showdown between the Bolts and last year's runners-up Alaska Aces at 6:15 p.m.
The remaining two teams, TNT and Rain Or Shine, face off on July 20 at 7 p.m. also at the Quezon City venue following the GlobalPort-Mahindra match at 4:15 p.m.
A third Mega Manila venue, the Ynares Center in Antipolo, will host a doubleheader on July 29. The Elite and the Elasto Painters collide at 4:15 p.m., while Tropang TNT and the Aces lock horns at 7 p.m.
The Quezon Convention Center in Lucena will then get a taste of PBA action as Ginebra and Meralco clash in the lone offering there on July 30 at 5 p.m.
The entirety of the PBA Governors' Cup fixtures will be released at a later date.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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