CHICAGO - As they stumble out of the gates to start the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup, Magnolia doesn’t have to worry about one thing.
Being mocked as “introvoys.”
With an 0-2 start, the Hotshots are denied of the fiery start with which to fade from, an oft-repeated pattern in the past which birthed their unflattering moniker.
READ: Lalanne pushes NLEX to 2-0 start while pulling Magnolia to 0-2
Part of the current problem is the shift in Magnolia’s defensive identity from ferociously hard-hat and blue-collar to meek and hospitable.
In their twin losses to Phoenix and NLEX, the Hotshots surrendered 213 points on a combined 78-of-171 shooting (45.6 percent).
Magnolia is also getting murdered in rebounding, 104-72, including a staggering 42-15 disadvantage on the offensive glass.
A LONG LIST OF WOES.
The Hotshots touted a free flow attack built around ball and body movement.
What’s happening instead is that the ball sticks in Jerom Lastimosa’s hands and he dribbles too much while teammates stand around like tourists and ogle.
Changing imports from Terrell Brown-Soares to Nuni Omot three days before the conference started didn’t seem wise.
With 59 points in two games, Omot can score, but he’s not the take-charge, bail-you-out-of-a-jam type that you’d expect from an import.
Omot is a skinny 6-foot-9 and 215 pounds. Makes you wonder if the 6’10, 236-lb Brown-Soares was the better option on defense and rebounding.
Believe it or not, though, there’s a silver lining.
SAVING GRACE.
Zavier Lucero, already an All-Star and a Best Defensive Player honoree, continues his ascent to MVP territory.
Impervious to the chaos around him, Lucero is powering through like a machine, 35 points, 18 rebounds and 5 assists in two games, with an efficient connect rate of 13-of-23 from the field.
I can understand the move to get younger and hand the keys of the offense to Jerom.
But maybe it’s not time yet to completely put Mark Barrocca to pasture, either.
Having just logged 29 minutes and 18 seconds thus far, the Hotshots defense lacked the old-timer’s bite.
It’s early and the Hotshots can still bounce back but with the way they played Sunday night you can almost see the glaze in their eyes.
They’re dead inside.
I hope the easily lovable coach LA Tenorio knows how to perform CPR.
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