Boatwright Set to Return as Beermen Aim to Bounce Back Against Hot Road Warriors

Bennie Boatwright is ready to make his highly anticipated return to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) as San Miguel looks to snap a rare slump when they face NLEX in the Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

All eyes will be on the naturalization hopeful as he steps back into the same role he played during the 2023-24 conference, which ended with the Beermen securing the championship after defeating Magnolia in six games.

However, San Miguel is more focused on their current campaign than reminiscing about past glories, as they aim to end a two-game losing streak—something uncharacteristic for the powerhouse franchise.

After consecutive wins over Macau and Ginebra, the Beermen fell short against league leaders Rain or Shine and were handed a blowout loss by Magnolia, where they played without Justin Patton, who went AWOL.

The situation with Patton prompted team manager Gee Abanilla to quickly reach out to Boatwright for assistance. The 6-foot-10 forward wasted no time returning to Manila to rejoin his former team.

“Because of what happened, I had to get in touch with Bennie right away,” said Abanila after their loss to the Hotshots last Sunday.

San Miguel will be hoping Boatwright’s return brings a renewed sense of confidence to the team. Even the sportsbook sees them as favorites to win by a margin of -5.0 points. The over/under for total points is set at 208.5.

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However, the Beermen’s path to victory won’t be easy, as they are set to face one of the hottest teams in the league today.

NLEX enters the game on a four-game winning streak, the latest of which was a thrilling 104-101 overtime victory over Meralco. Rookie LJ Gonzales made a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer, securing the win even after head coach Jong Uichico was ejected early.

That victory not only extended their winning streak but also moved them into solo second place with a 6-1 record, just behind the undefeated Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (7-0).

“It’s a big win for us, especially since we’re facing San Miguel,” said assistant coach Borgie Hermida, who took charge after Uichico’s ejection. “So we need to be full of confidence going into Sunday’s game.”

In the 7:30 p.m. nightcap, Magnolia and Converge will look to continue their momentum after recent victories.

The Hotshots are coming off a dominant 120-102 win over San Miguel, and they’re aiming to build another winning streak after a three-game stretch was spoiled by Ginebra and RJ Abarrientos on April 10.

However, standing in their way is a Converge team that regained confidence with a 103-82 victory over Titan Ultra, snapping a five-game losing streak.

The FiberXers also have the mental edge, having previously defeated Magnolia 114-97 in the Season 50 Philippine Cup elimination round in December, also in Antipolo.

According to the sportsbook, Magnolia is favored to win by -5.5 points, with the over/under set at 199.0 total points.