Perfect Hotshots up for rough outing with physical Bolts
The extended rest could either be beneficial or detrimental for the only unbeaten team of the PBA Philippine Cup in Magnolia, which is up for a tough challenge in Meralco on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Magnolia looks to go 6-0 in the all-Filipino tournament at 7:30 p.m. as it plays for the first time since producing a 33-point annihilation of lowly Terrafirma last May 4 at Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Coach Chito Victolero and the Hotshots were supposed to play last Sunday against NLEX, but the league made significant changes to the remainder of the elimination round schedule to accommodate Meralco’s upcoming campaign in the Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL).
With the rejigged schedule, the Bolts are currently in the midst of playing five games in the next 19 days before focusing on the BCL Asia stint as the PBA’s representative.
“We can’t afford to relax and have to prepare for battle,” said Victolero, whose team could be in for another grind-out encounter with the Bolts despite the latter’s 3-4 win-loss slate.
Meralco fell, 101-84, to TNT last Sunday, but the final score did not reflect the way the Bolts were able to take the lead before failing to counter the Tropang 5G’s torrid shooting in the fourth quarter.
Getting their time
How Zavier Lucero performs, especially against the physical Meralco front line led by Cliff Hodge, is seen as one of the factors in Magnolia’s chances to keep its perfect slate, as the sophomore forward has been good on both ends of the floor.
Lucero has epitomized Magnolia’s greater emphasis on giving more playing time to its younger talents, which also includes rookie guards Peter Alfaro and Jerom Lastimosa.
Veterans Mark Barroca and Paul Lee, however, have put in their share of key contributions during this impressive start, which the Magnolia faithful would like to see as sustainable rather than just false hope.
Another team on the rise is NLEX, which is expected to post its fifth win in six matches against Terrafirma in the 5 p.m. opener.
The Road Warriors will be led by high-scoring Robert Bolick, who is going to make sure coach Jong Uichico’s system can run smoothly.
Terrafirma is the league’s worst team at 1-5, with the uncertain future of the franchise contributing to the Dyip’s rough morale.
“It’s hard to focus with all the rumors surrounding our team,” Terrafirma rookie Mark Nonoy told the Inquirer. “Of course, we’ll still go out there, give our best and set aside whatever issues are being discussed on social media.”
The Dyip management is currently in talks with the ownership of the Zamboanga Valientes for a potential sale after an initial agreement with Starhorse Shipping Lines bogged down.
