WITH Magnolia unscathed in three games, coach Chito Victolero refused to get giddy on the Hotshots’ hot start in the mid-season tourney.
“Ang talagang focus namin ay one game at a time, 1-0, 1-0, iyan ang nakalagay sa mga pre-games namin and we want to focus on the eliminations,” Victolero said.
“We don’t want to look forward sa playoffs. Kung ano ang nandito, iyon ang tratrabahuin namin and good thing we have a good start,” he added.
Magnolia’s resolve will be tested anew when it takes on NLEX today in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The nightcap is set at 5:45, with the Hotshots aiming to score a big follow-up to their 94-92 squeaker over TNT seven days ago.
Blackwater tries to notch a second straight win when it collides with NorthPort in the curtain-raiser at 3 o’clock.
Magnolia will count on the likes of import Nick Rakocevic, Calvin Abueva, Paul Lee, Mark Barroca, and Jio Jalalon in its bid to improve its 3-0 card.
The Road Warriors are aching to rebound from a 97-111 loss to Phoenix last Saturday.
Reinforcement Earl Clark, Don Trollano, Kevin Alas, and Matt Nieto will be counted upon by NLEX to improve its 2-1 record and break a tie with Ginebra.
“One game at a time lang kami dapat. Kailangan pa naming maging consistent. So far kasi rollercoaster ang conference naming. Itong conference hinati namin sa tatlo ang eliminations dahil 12 games, so 4-4-4,” Bossing strategist Ariel Vanguardia said.
“So, tapos na ‘yung first segment, first four games, going to the next segment naman kami. So bagong start ulit, kumbaga, itong next four games. Sa tingin namin, kapag lagi kaming 2-2 each remaining segment, top eight. Kapag may 3-1 o parehong 3-1, may pag-asa kaming mag-top six.”
Blackwater will go into battle on a high, having scored a 109-106 stunner over defending champion San Miguel Beer last Wednesday.
The Bossing will pin their hopes on import Cameron Krutwig, Baser Amer, Troy Rosario, Gab Banal, Rey Suerte, and Ato Ular to hike their 2-2 card, the same slate of the Batang Pier and Rain or Shine.
NorthPort, coming off a 93-117 setback to the Tropang Giga four days ago, will rely on reinforcement Prince Ibeh, Robert Bolick, Roi Sumang, veteran Arwind Santos, Arvin Tolentino and Jeff Chan.
