Games Wednesday

(Philsports Arena)

3 p.m. — San Miguel vs Bay Area

5:45 p.m. — Ginebra vs Magnolia

Focus will be on six-time Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo and 7-foot-5 slotman Liu Chuanxing when San Miguel Beer and Bay Area open their Commissioner's Cup best-of-five semifinal series on Wednesday at the Philsports Arena.

Action starts at 3 p.m. before Game 1 of the other semifinal pairing between rivals Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Magnolia at 5:45 p.m.

Fajardo, a 6-foot-10 giant from Cebu and the league's most dominant figure in the past eight years, is tipped to have his hands full against a taller, yet versatile slotman in Liu, who is a member of the Chinese national squad that saw action in the 2020 FIBA Asia Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament and 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.

Fajardo and Liu will surely spice up the crucial battle between the reigning champion and the dangerous Dragons, who are looking to become the first foreign squad to win a PBA title in 42 years.

The Dragons ended the elimination round as the No.1 seed and easily dismantled their last two opponents by an average 31 points, including a 126-96 bashing of Rain or Shine in their quarterfinals duel.

But the Beermen had won six in a row and appeared to be peaking at the right time.

With their tour de force inside the shaded lane back in action, their explosive gunner in Terrence Romeo just returned and the rest of the team making key contributions, they are ready to roll the dice against the most formidable opponent that they are facing in years.

Also tipped to draw attention is the rivalry between Ginebra and Magnolia.