Games today:

(Ninoy Aquino Stadium)

5 p.m. — Blackwater vs Magnolia

7:30 p.m. — NLEX vs San Miguel Beer

San Miguel Beer clashes with NLEX to kick off its redemption campaign in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup today at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Coming off a forgettable outing in the previous conference, June Mar Fajardo and company hope to get a good kickoff in the 7:30 p.m. main game.

Meanwhile, Blackwater and Magnolia square off at 5 p.m. in the curtain-raiser.

The Beermen are pumped up to erase the memory of a shocking elimination round exit in a failed title defense in the mid-season Commissioner’s Cup.

Troubled by a sudden coaching shakeup and multiple import changes, San Miguel struggled in form and missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade to finish in 10th place.

The Leo Austria-mentored squad is also extra motivated to do better this time after a bitter ending last year.

Heavy favorites to win it all, the Beermen were on the wrong side of history as Meralco claimed a stunning breakthrough title at their expense in six games.

It will also be interesting to note the showdown between eight-time Most Valuable Player Fajardo and Road Warriors’ streaky scorer Robert Bolick, the top two players in the Best Player of the Conference race last tournament but were outshone by eventual winner Arvin Tolentino of NorthPort.

On the other hand, Blackwater coach Jeffrey Cariaso hopes to double his celebration after his inclusion in the PBA 50 Greatest Players with an opening day win.

Cariaso, an eight-time PBA champion and part of the 1996 Alaska grand slam team, was part of the 10 additional names inducted to the elite list of league stars.

The mentor has high hopes for Blackwater following an 11th place finish in the Commissioner’s Cup with the return of Sedrick Barefield and the acquisition of point guard BJ Andrade.

The rookie is back after getting sidelined by a foot injury just four games into the last tournament.

But the Hotshots are looking to spoil Cariaso’s parade and begin their version of redemption following a quarterfinals exit in the previous conference.

“We want to bring back our deep playoff aspirations,” Magnolia coach Chito Victolero said.

Bitten by injury bug, the Hotshots hobbled their way into the playoffs only to get run over by the top-seeded Batang Pier in the quarters.

“We’re looking at a different approach on our defense and offense. The players are embracing it, adopting it. So, let’s see how our adjustments will play out this conference,” Victolero said. MARK ESCARLOTE

Ian Sangalang, Mark Barroca, a healthier Paul Lee, Calvin Abueva, Zav Lucero and rookie Jerom Lastimosa are out to turn Magnolia’s fortune around.