Their unbeaten streak snapped, the Meralco Bolts aim to redeem themselves against the NLEX Road Warriors even as the San Miguel Beermen try to extend their victory run in the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Beermen applied the brakes on Meralco’s 5-0 start in an out-of-town game in Legazpi City last weekend and hope to stretch their run against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters today in the 7 p.m. encounter.
Arinze Onuako, instrumental in Meralco’s climb to the top, will be the focal point of defense for the Road Warriors, who dropped back-to-back games and settled near the bottom of the standings with the Phoenix Fuel Masters and the Elasto Painters.
Onuako had 28 points and 30 boards that went down the drain against the Beermen.
The challenge for the Bolts, on the other hand, will be to limit the high-scoring Willie Thornton.
The Painters will unveil a new import after parting ways with Antoine Wright. The 2005 NBA first-rounder will be subbed by Mo Charlo, who has impressed coach Yeng Guiao despite humble credentials.
Charlo is an eight-year NBA D-League journeyman who saw action in the NBA Summer League twice—with the Golden State Warriors in 2006 and the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2010.
The 6-foot-7 banger will be tested in a matchup with San Miguel’s Tyler Wilkerson, the all-around performer who has anchored Leo Austria and the Beermen’s rise to 3-1 after an opening-day loss.