TO say it would be a huge upset if and when red-hot Magnolia falls to a slumping Blackwater side is an understatement.
For starters, the Hotshots are unscathed in five starts, thanks to a young but workhorse import who gets the job done and their locals who play beautiful music with their reinforcement.
After winning their opening game, the Bossing’s campaign is going south, having dropped their last five outings, counting a 110-115 loss to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters four nights back.
That makes Magnolia the hands-down favorite when it collides with Blackwater tonight in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The Hotshots cross paths with the Bossing in the main game at 8 p.m. after NorthPort battles winless Converge in the curtain-raiser at 4 o’clock.
Magnolia coach Chito Victolero is counting on his charges’ vaunted defense to work wonders anew against their struggling foes.
“We try to remind our prayers about playing strong and finishing stronger. Kailangan ng reminders, No. 1 paalala is to run our system,” Victolero said after his team mauled NLEX 99-72 last Friday. “Actually, we are a defensive team. We have that defensive mindset.”
Import Tyler Bey will be counted upon by the Hotshots along with their three-guard rotation of Jio Jalalon, Mark Barroca, and Paul Lee, and big man Ian Sangalang.
Tactician Jeffrey Cariaso’s Blackwater is still searching for answers to put an end to their struggles.
The Bossing will pin their hopes on reinforcement Chris Ortiz, Troy Rosario, Rey Suerte, Mike Ayonayon, and Ato Ular to improve their 1-5 slate.
Batang Pier strategist Bonnie Tan is not one to look past the FiberXers, who will parade a new import in former Los Angeles Clipper Jamil Wilson in lieu of Tom Vodanovich.
“Siyempre, facing Converge, they’ve lost all their games. Pero except for a couple siguro, the rest close lahat,” Tan said. “Sana hindi sa amin nila makuha ang unang panalo nila.
“Tsaka sana makatulong iyong two-day break na ibinigay ko sa mga players, para hindi sila stressed, hindi sila pagod. Actually, kami ang worst sa three-point shooting and against Converge, nakasulat sa board namin iyan na sana iyong strength nila, which is volume shots sa three-points, hindi mag-click sa amin.”
Propped up by a 128-123 overtime triumph over TNT five days ago that hiked its card to 3-2, NorthPort will bank on reinforcement Venky Jois who will be backed up by Arvin Tolentino, Fran Yu, Joshua Munzon, and JM Calma.
Reeling from a painful 98-99 defeat at the hands of Phoenix last Saturday, Wilson, Schonny Winston, Justin Arana, and Jerrick Balanza are expected to show the way for Converge.
But the changing horses midstream could prove too little, too late for the FiberXers.
