WATCH: San Miguel vs Magnolia Finals Press Conference

Without much time to rest, Magnolia and San Miguel are set to face off in the final showdown, sparking an exhilarating clash between a group of defensive warriors and a squad of lethal offensive attackers.

The Hotshots and the Beermen will be dancing on the court together, just 48 hours after the Hotshots eliminated the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters in their semifinals match on Wednesday.

Coach Jorge Gallent and his team had the advantage of some rest after sweeping Barangay Ginebra in three games on Sunday. This may give them an edge in the series opener, but the Beermen are prepared for a long battle against a team that has been impressive since the preseason On Tour series.

Following the expected playoff seeding, the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup is now heading towards a showdown between the top-seeded team and the second-seeded team. This intriguing dispute will unfold at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.

The Hotshots have been exceptional, boasting an impressive record of 24-2 since the preseason. However, the Beermen are equally impressive, riding the momentum of a nine-game winning streak into the finals.

Defense is the focal point for coach Chito Victolero and his team, while the Beermen excel in offense with their prolific import Bennie Boatwright and local stars like June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez.

During the elimination round, Magnolia topped the league in defense, allowing only an average of 88.5 points per game. The Hotshots also dominate in rebounding.

On the other hand, San Miguel ranked second in offense, averaging 107 points per game, and first in field goal percentage.

On December 10th, the Hotshots defeated the Beermen, 94-90, with their strong defense overpowering the Beermen’s offense. It should be noted that Fajardo was still recovering from an injury at that time, and Boatwright had not yet joined the team to replace Ivan Aska.

Now, they find themselves battling in a completely new game as both teams strive to claim the throne that was left vacant by the Barangay Ginebra Kings.

San Miguel aims to regain the Commissioner’s Cup title, which they last won in 2019 with import Chris McCullough, while Magnolia seeks to return to the throne they last occupied in the 2018 Governors Cup.

An intriguing sub-plot is the matchup between Victolero and Gallent, who were former teammates during their playing days with Stag Pale Pilsen in the now-defunct PBL.