IT has come down to this as Magnolia and Rain or Shine figure in Game Five, the winner of which will advance to the semifinals and face TNT in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
Here’s what you need to know about the pivotal game.
Magnolia vs. Rain or Shine
When: Saturday, October 5. 7:30 p.m.
Where: Ynares Center, Antipolo
Going all-out for the semifinals
Magnolia and Rain or Shine duke it out for one final time this conference in Game Five of the quarterfinals. The Hotshots forced a rubber match after dealing the Elasto Painters a 129-100 beating in Game Four last Thursday, which continued the trend in the series in which Magnolia wins in blowouts following their 52-point trouncing of Rain or Shine in Game Two.
READ: Magnolia forces KO match with RoS after blowout win in Game 4
Will Lucero play?
Zavier Lucero remains a question mark for Magnolia in the rubber game on Saturday as he is reportedly still dealing with the effects of a concussion he sustained in Game Three of what has become an intense quarterfinal series between the two teams.
Even without Lucero, the Hotshots were able to find a way to make up for his absence to score a blowout win in Game Four.
READ: Concussion grounds Zavier Lucero in Magnolia's Game 4 win
Will Lemetti finally explode?
A player that has been noticeably struggling in the quarterfinals is rookie Felix Lemetti. After averaging the team's third-best scoring average in 11.9 points in the eliminations, Lemetti has only logged an average of 4.25 points in the series with his best output coming in lopsided Game Two where he only scored 11.
Lemetti has also been off-target from the outside, making just 2-of-14 from threes in the entire series, a far cry from the 58.7 percent shooting he hit from the same distance. Needless to say, Lemetti’s usual output is what Rain or Shine needs in the do-or-die contest.
Magnolia’s 4-point sniping
One big reason why Magnolia is still in the series is their efficiency in draining the four-point shots. In Game Four, the Hotshots made five including three from Paul Lee, with league-leader Jerrick Ahanmisi converting the rest.
In the entire series, Magnolia has buried 13 fours, with Rain or Shine only registering two. It can be the difference once again in Game Five.
Experience vs. youth
At the end of the day, it’s going to go down to composure for Game Five. Magnolia has played in many playoff games, while this batch of Rain or Shine players are only starting to get experience in these kinds of situations. Will the vast experience of Magnolia’s playoff past send them to the semifinals, or will their recent challenges in the quarterfinals of the young Rain or Shine be enough for them to get over the hump?
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