Ginebra makes Comm Cup debut in April Fools' Day road rage; SMB's campaign begins the day later

Philippine Cup champ San Miguel returns to action on April 2. (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Ginebra's PBA Commissioner's Cup stint will begin on April 1.

This is not an April Fools' Day joke.

The PBA announced on Thursday that the Barangay will begin their bid in the mid-season conference right at the start of April against the Phoenix Fuel Masters.

With the match happening on a Saturday, Ginebra's debut will happen outside Metro Manila, with the USEP Gym in Davao City as the chosen venue for the said tiff at 5 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Barangay's opponents in the recent Philippine Cup Finals, the eventual winners San Miguel Beermen, will begin their own quest for back-to-back titles as they take on the Meralco Bolts as action goes back to the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City the night after.

The SMB-Meralco clash will take place at 6:45 p.m., right after the 4:30 p.m. Commissioner's Cup Finals rematch between Alaska and Rain Or Shine.

On the other hand, a doubleheader at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay will take place on March 29.

Alaska and Mahindra will slug it out at 4:15 p.m., while Rain Or Shine and Meralco will face off at 7 p.m.

The other announced twinbill is on March 31 back at "The Big Dome" with the TNT-Blackwater game at 4:15 p.m. and the Star-NLEX clash at 7 p.m.

The rest of the schedule will be announced at a later date.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno