GAMES TODAY
(Ninoy Aquino Stadium)
5 p.m. – Terrafirma vs. NLEX
7:30 p.m. – Meralco vs. Magnolia
MAGNOLIA and NLEX, two of the hottest teams in the season-ending meet, are keen on keeping their streaks going against struggling squads.
Who will succeed will be known when the Hotshots and Road Warriors clash with separate foes today in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
Out to preserve its 5-0 mark is Magnolia when it battles defending champion Meralco in the nightcap at 7:30 after NLEX faces Terrafirma at 5 p.m.
Armed with a four-game winning run that included a gutsy 89-86 victory over the Ginebra Kings last week, the Road Warriors are favored to run over the Dyip, who have lost four in a row, counting a 74-110 rout at the hands of the TNT Tropang 5G last Friday.
But NLEX coach Jong Uichico is not one to look past a Terrafirma quintet carrying a 1-5 slate.
“Lately natatalo sila, but that does not mean they don’t play hard. They always play hard, they try their best,” Uichico said. “Maski ganoon iyong standing nila, it doesn’t mean they’ll just show up and play the game, parang ganoon.
“That’s going to be our mindset, na hindi iyong parang ayaw na nilang maglaro. It’s never been their (Dyip’s) mindset. They always play hard,” he added.
The likes of main man Robert Bolick, JB Bahio, Xyrus Torres, and Javee Mocon will be counted upon by the Road Warriors to stoke their 4-1 record.
Terrafirma’s chance of averting an early vacaction anew in the single round eliminations will be in the hands of Louie Sangalang, Mark Nonoy, and veterans Stanley Pringle and Aldrech Ramos.
“They have players who are gutom, young, gigil. If you use them, they will always play, they will always fight regardless of the score, kung sino kalaban. They want to prove themselves also,” Uichico said of their opponents.
“So, very dangerous ‘yung Terrafirma because these individual players are out to prove na they can play also, na kahit nasa bottom team nila, they can still keep up with the bigwigs ng PBA. Then iyong mga beterano, ‘Kaya pa rin namin,’ may pride din there. So, ganoon ‘yung Terrafirma.”
The only unbeaten five in the import-less tourney, Magnolia is bidding for a fitting follow up to a 127-94 whipping of the Dyip last May 4 and will pin its hops on Zavier Lucero, Paul Lee, Ian Sangalang, Mark Barroca, Calvin Abueva, Jerom Lastimosa, and Peter Alfaro.
The Bolts misfired when it mattered most in an 84-101 loss to the Tropang 5G last Sunday that dropped them to 3-4.
