MAGNOLIA'S gamble to allow Bol Bol to score but shut TNT's locals down ore fruit with a crucial win on Tuesday.
The Hotshots beat the Tropang 5G, 106-94, despite conceding 53 points to Bol, his best offensive output in the 50th Season Commissioner's Cup.
Magnolia coach LA Tenorio said allowing Bol to score on mostly single coverage was exactly their game plan,so long as they don't let TNT's locals explode offensively.
“Kulang pa nga eh. We wanted him to score 80 points actually. Yun ang target namin,” said Tenorio.
Bol took 40 field goal shots, the most in the conference, making 23, although Magnolia also made sure that the TNT import earned his points. The former NBA player missed all four of his threes and one four.
But what Magnolia was most concerned about was TNT's locals which the Hotshots focused on. Tenorio knows how capable they are as seen from TNT's previous loss against Phoenix where four locals scored in double digits.
Calvin Oftana was the only double-digit scorer among TNT locals as he finished with 18 points on 7-of-17 shooting.
“But the most dangerous part of this team (TNT), that's why they are a champion team, is not because of their import. Of course, malaking bagay yung import nila. I have so much respect to their locals,” said Tenorio.
“Ever since I've been playing against them, it's their locals who really give other teams problems. We really decided as a coaching staff to make that decision that Bol will do his thing,” he added.
Tenorio said Magnolia can't do anything about Bol because of his skills.
“He is a legit NBA guy. He is a very tall guy. Even though we deny him, we cannot deny him. We decided to just let do his thing and then kami, we focus on the locals,” said Tenorio.
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