FANS can expect fireworks when four teams led by NLEX and Magnolia that are chasing coveted quarterfinals slots try to seal the deal today.
“We need to have that sense of urgency, that the game today is our first playoff game,” Hotshots coach Chito Victolero said. “Playoff mentality na for us starting today and I’m sure sila rin ganoon ang approach.
“We’re a veteran team. My players know how to bounce back from that kind of game,” he added, referring to his charges’ numbing 51-74 loss to the Meralco Bolts last Sunday.
Magnolia takes on a Terrafirma side also raring to bolster its Last Eight bid in the PBA Philippine Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The curtain-raiser is set at 4:30 before the Road Warriors face the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at 7:30.
Foremost among Victolero’s marching orders to the Hotshots is to lick their wounds fast and recover from their embarrassing loss to the Bolts– a game that featured several new dubious records, including the fewest points ever scored in Magnolia’s franchise history.
“We’re ready for the game (against the Dyip). I told them to forget about it, let’s move forward. It happens naman na masama laro mo, natapat lang na sabay-sabay. Wala na kaming magagawa doon, tapos na,” Victolero said. “The only thing we could do is to get better, kung ano man nakita namin na kailangang i-improve sa ginagawa namin.
“Ang pinaka-magagawa namin is to bounce back hard the next game and then let’s see what happens, kung paano kami makaka-posisyon. Maganda pa naman kinalalagyan namin. We still have control of our destiny.”
With a 5-4 mark, the Hotshots will pin their hopes on Ian Sangalang, Mark Barroca, Paul Lee, and Jio Jalalon, who missed the last two games due to a knee injury. Calvin Abueva remains day-to-day due to his own knee injury.
“Nandiyan ang opportunity kaya kailangan sunggaban namin,” said Terrafirma strategist Johnedel Cardel, whose team has had ample rest since outlasting NorthPort 110-108 last April 24. “Siyempre, hindi magiging madali dahil mabigat talaga ang kalaban, so kailangan trabahuhin namin ng husto.
“Pero positive naman ang mga bata, the whole team.”
Cardel will bank on the likes of Juami Tiongson, Stephen Holt, Isaac Go, and Javi Gomez de Liaño in the Dyip’s try to hike their 5-5 card.
NLEX is raring to atone for a 103-120 setback at the hands of defending champion San Miguel Beer five nights back that dropped the Road Warriors to 5-4.
Gunner Robert Bolick is expected to return for NLEX after missing its last outing due to his wife giving birth to their first child.
Rain or Shine will go into the tiff determined to make up for a 102-108 defeat to Magnolia last April 20 that dragged it to 5-5 and will draw strength from Adrian Nocum, Beau Belga, Leonard Santillan, and Andrei Caracut.
