Meralco and NorthPort will look to regain their winning ways when they square off at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig on Friday, May 9. Both teams have suffered significant downturns after promising starts to the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup, and each is eager to stop the bleeding as the elimination phase nears its halfway mark.

The Batang Pier began their campaign with an impressive 97-75 win over the Terrafirma Dyip but quickly fell into a slump with three consecutive losses to Rain or Shine (96-113), Blackwater (98-120), and Barangay Ginebra (106-131). The team has been further hampered by the absence of star player Arvin Tolentino, who is recovering from a right hip flexor injury.

Meralco, on the other hand, started the season strong with back-to-back victories over the Converge FiberXers (91-89) and the Dyip (118-80). However, they’ve since suffered defeats to San Miguel Beermen (98-110), Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters (97-109), and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (116-128), putting their playoff hopes in jeopardy.

Both teams are now in urgent need of a victory to improve their standings, as securing a spot in the Top Four—along with the twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals—remains the goal for every team in the league.

Tolentino’s status for the game remains uncertain, which adds further pressure on the Batang Pier, who are also adjusting to the absence of Commissioner’s Cup import Kadeem Jack. With Jack’s help, NorthPort had a strong midseason showing last year, finishing at the top of the elimination round before falling to Barangay Ginebra in the semifinals. Notably, one of NorthPort’s three losses in the elimination round came at the hands of Meralco (94-111).

Meralco, which claimed its first PBA championship last season, has struggled to find consistency this season, and they will need to rediscover their form if they are to stay competitive in the Philippine Cup.