NLEX's Chism engages in early clash with former team ROS at start of Commissioner's Cup

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By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Wayne Chism reunited with Yeng Guiao, his former coach at ROS, as he decided to join NLEX in the PBA Commissioner's Cup.

But right on Day 1 of the mid-season conference, both the Road Warriors and the Elasto Painters will collide.

Chism will be having an early collision course with his former club as NLEX and ROS will slug it out against each other in the main game of the opening night of the Commissioner's Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on March 17.

In a copy of the fixtures for the first seven playdates of the tournament that was obtained by Dugout Philippines on Wednesday, the Road Warriors and the E-Painters will battle at 7 p.m of the said date, right after the 4:15 p.m. curtain-raiser between the Mahindra Floodbusters and the Meralco Bolts.

Action will then shift to the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay the following day, where Phoenix will take on Blackwater at 3 p.m. and Alaska will clash with GlobalPort at 5:15 p.m.

Losing Philippine Cup semifinalists Star and TNT will then take their turns in making their Commissioner's Cup debuts.

The Hotshots will go first on March 22 at "The Big Dome" as they clash with the Fuel Masters at 7 p.m., right after the showdown between the Elite and the Aces at 4:15 p.m.

The KaTropa will play two nights later at the said venue against the Bolts at 7 p.m., right after their fellow MVP squad Road Warriors collide with the Floodbusters at 4:15 p.m.

Star and GlobalPort will then troop to the Mindanao Civic Center in Tubod for the first non-Mega Manila game of the tournament on March 25 at 5 p.m.

The night later, the PBA will hold a doubleheader at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, where Blackwater and ROS will clash in the first game at 4:30 p.m. and Phoenix will take on TNT in the other match-up at 6:45 p.m.

The respective Commissioner's Cup debuts of the Philippine Cup finalists Ginebra and eventual champion San Miguel will be revealed in the full schedule of the mid-season conference, which will be revealed at a later date.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno