PBA Schedule Philippine Cup 2019: Complete Game Dates and Team Matchups

2025-11-04 19:15

I still remember the first time I saw Veejay Bautista drain three consecutive three-pointers during his rookie season - the arena literally shook with that distinctive roar that only PBA fans can produce. Now, as we approach the 2019 Philippine Cup, there's something different about this sharpshooter. Back from his days as a Baby Tamaraw, he's always been one to make his shots make noise, but the landscape has fundamentally shifted after what fans have dubbed the 'Veejay Pre-xit.' The departure of key veterans has thrust Bautista into a position he might not have anticipated this early in his career - he's unquestionably become the face of the Tamaraws, and honestly, I think this could be the making of him.

The 2019 PBA Philippine Cup schedule kicks off on January 13th at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, with the Tamaraws scheduled for their first matchup on January 16th against the reigning champions. Looking at the complete schedule they released last week, they've got a challenging but manageable path through the elimination round, with key games clustered in late January and a potentially decisive stretch in mid-February that could determine their playoff positioning. What fascinates me about their schedule isn't just the dates and opponents - it's the timing of their toughest matchups. They face last year's finalists back-to-back in weeks 3 and 4, which I actually see as an advantage. Early pressure either breaks a team or forges its identity, and with Bautista now shouldering the leadership role, this baptism by fire could accelerate the team's cohesion in ways that comfortable wins never could.

I've followed Bautista's career since his UAAP days, and there's always been this quiet intensity about him that separates him from other shooters. He's not the flashy type who celebrates after every made basket, but you can see the calculation in his eyes during timeouts - he's processing, adjusting, reading the game at a level that's rare for someone his age. Last season, under coach Sean Chambers, the Tamaraws finished with a respectable 7-4 record in the elimination round before bowing out in the quarterfinals. Chambers implemented this beautiful motion offense that generated approximately 42% of their points from beyond the arc, perfectly suited to Bautista's catch-and-shoot prowess. But this season, the dynamic has to change - Bautista needs to acknowledge and accept that he's not just a specialist anymore, he's the focal point.

What many casual fans don't realize is how much the 'Veejay Pre-xit' narrative has overshadowed the actual strategic implications for the team. With two of their primary ball-handlers moving to other teams, the Tamaraws lost about 38% of their total assists from last season. That's a staggering number to replace, and it falls directly on Bautista to not only maintain his scoring output but to elevate his playmaking. I've spoken with several team insiders who confirm that Chambers has been working with Bautista extensively on pick-and-roll situations during the offseason, specifically targeting his decision-making when double-teamed. The numbers from their preseason games show promise - Bautista averaged 5.2 assists in their five tune-up matches, up from his career average of 2.8 in official PBA games.

The schedule itself presents both obstacles and opportunities. Their January 22nd matchup against the Beermen will be particularly telling - that's traditionally been a defensive struggle where star players get trapped and harassed relentlessly. If Bautista can navigate that pressure while still creating for others, it will signal his true arrival as a complete guard. Then there's the February 10th game against the Hotshots, who play at the league's fastest pace. That game could easily feature over 200 total possessions, testing Bautista's conditioning and decision-making in transition. Personally, I'm marking that one on my calendar as the potential breakout game for this new iteration of the Tamaraws.

What I find most compelling about this situation is how it mirrors the natural evolution of PBA franchises. Every few years, teams undergo these transitional phases where the torch passes from one generation to the next. The great ones - your Alvin Patrimonios, your James Yaps - they recognize these moments not as burdens but as opportunities to define their legacies. From my conversations with people around the league, Bautista has that same recognition brewing beneath his typically reserved exterior. He's been putting up 500 extra shots after practice according to the coaching staff, and he's taken the rookies under his wing in ways the previous veterans never did with him.

As we count down to opening tip-off, I keep thinking about something Coach Chambers told me during the offseason - "Great players don't wait for leadership, it finds them." The schedule is set, the matchups are intriguing, but the real story of the 2019 Philippine Cup for the Tamaraws won't be about dates or opponents. It will be about whether Bautista can transform from being a complementary piece to the centerpiece, whether he can guide his side to an improvement on their solid start from a year ago. Based on what I've seen in their preparation and the strategic adjustments they've made, I'm betting he will. The shots will still make noise, but now they'll carry meaning that echoes beyond the scoreboard.