By Adrian Stewart Co
Meralco Bolts and Alaska Aces will not be part of this week’s scheduled matches in the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
Based on the schedule released yesterday, the Bolts and Aces will not have a match this week in accordance with the league’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
It was learned that some of the players from the two squads tested positive for the virus and are currently undergoing quarantine at a facility in Metro Manila.
It was also the reason why the PBA postponed Aces’ scheduled match against San Miguel Beermen last Saturday as well as Bolts’ supposed encounter with defending champions Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings last Sunday.
The Bolts are currently at second place in the standings with 5-2 win-loss slate to a tie with Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots, as the Aces is at ninth spot with 2-4 win-loss record.
Meanwhile, NorthPort Batang Pier (1-3) is making a return this week after missing the opening week of the Philippine Cup restart after being also placed under the league’s health and safety protocols.
The Batang Pier will first face Blackwater Bossing (0-7) at 4:35 p.m. tomorrow before having back-to-back games against Terrafirma Dyip (3-4) at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday and NLEX Road Warriors (4-2) at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Meanwhile, set to battle today are Magnolia Hotshots (5-2) against the Road Warriors at 12:30 p.m., Beermen (3-2) and TNT Tropang GIGA (6-0) at 3:00 p.m., and Kings (2-3) and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (4-3) at 6:00 p.m.
The other match on Thursday is Dyip and Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters (2-5) at 2:00 p.m., while Friday’s triple-header will have Hotshots and Painters at 12:30 p.m, Tropang GIGA and Road Warriors at 3:00 p.m., and Kings and Beermen at 6:00 p.m.
The other match on Saturday is Bossing against Fuel Masters at 4:35 p.m., while the first two matches on Sunday are between Painters and Beermen at 2:00 p.m. and Tropang GIGA against the Kings at 4:35 p.m./ASC, WDJ