Magnolia targets second straight win vs Converge
Both Magnolia and Converge are aiming to get their second win in the ongoing PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup when they face each other on Sunday, December 1, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The Hotshots want to follow-up their 118-110 victory against the Blackwater Bossing last Wednesday, November 28, to have a 2-0 slate and have a share of the lead in the team standings.
Meanwhile, the FiberXers plan to get back on track after suffering a 106-117 loss in the hands of the guest team Hong Kong Eastern last Friday night, November 29, to have a 1-1 win-loss record.
According to Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero, the loss of Converge makes their opponent more dangerous especially since they are a young team.
"They are a dangerous team for us kasi ano 'yan, mga bata, eh," Victolero said.
"The way they played last night, very aggressive. Kumbaga 'yung sistema nila parang run-and-gun, eh. So I think we need to be more sharp on our execution sa depensa," added the 49-year-old mentor.
"Plus, we need to be more aggressive sa rebounds, especially 'yung import nila maraming nakukuhang offensive rebounds. And then their young guys, (Alec) Stockton, (Schonny) Winston, (Jordan) Heading, (Justin) Arana, very aggressive," Victolero explained.
"So I think it would also be a test nu'ng transition defense namin. 'Yung opensa naman namin, we need to keep executing lang para hindi kami matakbuhan. Naghihintay kasi sila ng transition points, fastbreak points."
The Hotshots might have a bigger advantage if Calvin Abueva is going to play as he can cope up with the running game of Converge but he will not be suiting up for Magnolia because of the neck injury he sustained in their last game.
"He's a big factor, pero there are other guys who can step up naman," said Victolero of Abueva. "The energy na ibinibigay ni Calvin, plus the fact na 'yung rebounding niya, hustle, 'yun 'yung mga ma-mi-miss namin. Pero I told the other guys na they need to step up, especially those na ka-posisyon niya."
Besides the local unit of the FiberXers, another weapon that the Hotshots need to silence is Converge import Cheick Diallo who scored 43 points and grabbed nine rebounds in their recent loss.
However, the one-time Coach of the Year believes that the Hotshots can overcome the obstacles they are facing specially that they have their ever-reliable reinforcement Ricardo Ratfliffe who answered the goal in their conference-opener with his 30 points and 18 rebounds.
Similar news
For the 13th time in league history, the NBA has named an international player as its Most Valuable Player — a growing trend that speaks volumes about the sport’s global evolution.
Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has officially been named the 2024–25 Kia NBA MVP, beating out a stacked field and extending the streak of international MVPs to seven consecutive seasons.
He also becomes the fourth player in Thunder history to win the award, following in the footsteps of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden — a trio that helped establish OKC as one of the premier breeding grounds for elite talent in the modern NBA.
The international MVP legacy traces back to Hakeem Olajuwon, who won the award in 1993–94 while representing Nigeria. It continued with the quiet dominance of Tim Duncan from the U.S. Virgin Islands, who secured back-to-back trophies in 2002 and 2003. Steve Nash, Canada’s first MVP, also went back-to-back in 2005 and 2006, before Dirk Nowitzki of Germany claimed his own in 2007.
Following a stretch dominated by American stars, the MVP conversation shifted again in the late 2010s. Giannis Antetokounmpo earned his two titles in 2019 and 2020, and then Nikola Jokić launched his own historic run with three MVPs in four years. In between came Joel Embiid, who broke through in 2023 for Cameroon.
The Denver Nuggets pushed the West No. 1 seed, the Oklahoma City Thunder, to a thrilling Game 7 match-up after defeating them 119-107 in Game 6 on Thursday, May 16 (PH time) at the Ball Arena in Denver.
Nikola Jokic was the catalyst for the Nuggets’ victory, posting a dominant double-double with 29 points and 14 rebounds. He also contributed eight assists, two steals, and a block, showing his all-around impact on both ends of the floor.
His partner, Jamal Murray, backed him up with a strong performance, putting up 25 markers, eight boards, seven dimes, and a crucial rejection. Christian Braun also made his presence felt, delivering a double-double of 23 points and 11 rebounds, while adding five assists, three steals, and a block to the stat sheet.
The Nuggets’ bench came alive with Julian Strawther providing the spark they needed, finishing with 15 markers and two boards to help maintain the team’s momentum throughout the game.
In this Player Profile Series, we look back at the career of Benjie Paras—“The Tower of Power”—the only player in PBA history to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season.
Paras was drafted by the Shell Turbo Chargers in 1989 and made an immediate impact. With his strength, mobility, and basketball IQ, he brought a complete inside presence—shot-blocking, rebounding, mid-range shooting, and post scoring. Shell didn’t win a title that year, but Paras’ dominant rookie season stood out above the rest.
In 1990, Paras led Shell to its first PBA championship, defeating Anejo Rhum in six games in the Open Conference Finals—a series remembered for Anejo’s controversial Game 6 walkout. The following year, Shell and Ginebra met again in the Reinforced Conference Finals. Shell took a 3–1 series lead but couldn’t close it out. Ginebra forced a Game 7 and won it on Rudy Distrito’s buzzer-beater.
Paras bounced back in 1992, helping Shell win another title—this time over San Miguel. But the team struggled with consistency after that. In 1993, Paras sat out one conference due to a contract dispute and requested a trade to Anejo, which didn’t materialize. He shifted focus to his acting career before returning to Shell. The team wouldn’t make another Finals appearance until the 1996 Commissioner’s Cup, where they pushed Alaska to seven games but came up short. Paras was back in the MVP conversation that season.
In 1998, Paras returned to the Finals in the Centennial Cup but lost to Mobiline. The rematch came later that year in the Governor’s Cup. Shell trailed 2–3 in the series but fought back to win in Game 7, with Paras and Gerry Esplana stepping up in crunch time.
His final championship came in 1999, leading Shell past the Tanduay Rhum Makers in six games. Facing a tough frontcourt that featured Fil-Ams Eric Menk and Sonny Alvarado, Paras held his own and steered Shell to the title. He won his second MVP that year—ten years after his first.
In the early 2000s, Paras battled injuries and eventually joined San Miguel in 2003. He retired at the end of that season, finishing his PBA career with 10,322 points in 574 games.
Paras also represented the Philippines in the 1990 Asian Games, where the national team brought home a silver medal after falling to China in the final.
In 2013, he returned to basketball as an assistant coach for the San Beda Red Lions and played in the PBA Legends Asia Tour the following year.
After his playing days, Paras transitioned into showbiz. He appeared in a range of TV dramas, sitcoms, and fantasy series, and also hosted game shows. Known for his versatility, Paras became a familiar face both on screen and on stage.
He is married to Lyxen Diomampo and has three children with her. He also has two sons from a previous marriage with actress Jackie Forster—Andre, who pursued both basketball and acting, and Kobe, who played college basketball in the U.S. and later for the UP Fighting Maroons before turning pro in Japan.