After gifting themselves and their die-hards a Christmas Day victory, the Barangay Ginebra Kings set out this time to start 2025 triumphantly.
For the San Miguel Beermen, the target is to rebound from a humbling defeat in their last outing in 2024.
The Kings and the Beermen eye these goals at each other's expense as they duke it out in the mainer of the PBA Commissioner's Cup return twin bill at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.
Game time is at 7:30 p.m. with each side looking to start the new year right and pump life on their respective bids in the tourney currently paces by the NorthPort Batang Pier at 6-1 followed by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at 4-1 then the Hong Kong Eastern and the Converge FiberXers both at 6-2.
The Gin Kings are at 4-2 followed by the Meralco Bolts at 3-2 then the Beermen at 3-3.
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Justin Brownlee and his teammates closed in on the lead bunch following a 95-92 decision over the Magnolia Hotshots on their Christmas Day duel before over 12,000 fans at the Big Dome.
Rookie RJ Abarrientos sizzled with 17 of his 20 points in the second half with four booming triples to spark a Ginebra rally from 22 down and dished out an assist leading to a Scottie Thompson game-winning trey at the buzzer.
"Christmas Clasico, special ito for the Ginebra team, especially for me. This is my first time playing sa Clasico," said Abarrientos then.
"Winning like that on a day like Christmas made it extra special," said Brownlee. "A couple Christmases ago we got beat by 20 plus points by the same team so I'm happy for the guys and the fans."
The Kings hope to pick up from where they left off as they anticipate a battle versus the Beermen in a rematch of their semifinal clash in the last conference.
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Coach Tim Cone's troops disposed of coach Jorge Gallent's chargers in six games before being defeated by the TNT Tropang Giga in the same number of matches in the finale.
The Beermen's skid stretched over to the early goings of the Commissioner's Cup but have since recovered, winning three of their last five outings under returning SMB coach Leo Austria.
A sad note for the Beermen was being beaten by Eastern, 91-99, in overtime in their final game in 2024 and in the PBA debut of new SMB import Jabbari Narcis. (SB)
