MAGNOLIA will face Meralco for the second time in four days on Wednesday, this time, to start their PBA 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinal playoff at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Hotshots closed the elimination round by beating Meralco, 93-76, to clinch the No. 5 seed and arrange a match-up with the No. 4 seed and twice-to-beat Bolts in the quarterfinals.
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That means Magnolia will have to beat Meralco two more times, essentially a 'thrice-to-beat' advantage that the Hotshots will have to overcome to advance to the semifinals.
It is certainly not an easy chore but Hotshots coach LA Tenorio will be the first to say that it is doable, based on the way the team is playing.
“We need this kind of confidence na we can match up with this team,” said Tenorio after the Hotshots’ win over the Bolts last Sunday.
“We have to beat them three times basically,” Tenorio added. “Naka-isa na kami. Kailangan pa namin ng dalawa.”
Magnolia ended the elims with three straight wins including a 106-94 victory over defending champion TNT last May 5 to end up with a 7-5 win-loss record.
The loss of Meralco last Sunday didn’t have too much of an effect on their quarterfinal campaign as the Bolts still own a twice-to-beat advantage, regardless of the result of their game against Magnolia.
“Kahit sino talaga ang kalaban mo, they are in the top four for a reason. Dapat maging ready lang kami,” Tenorio said.
This will be the second straight conference that Magnolia will have a twice-to-win disadvantage in the quarterfinals. During the Philippine Cup, the Hotshots placed sixth with a 6-5 win-loss record, but were ousted by TNT in the quarterfinals.
Tenorio hopes for a different story this conference.
“Maraming learnings. Me also as a rookie coach, maraming learnings from the last conference and definitely the players also,” Tenorio said.
“With the way we are playing, I’m really confident with my players and my team. How they’ve been playing right now, sa kumpiyansa nila, and the way they play and they have that sense of urgency that this is already the playoffs.
"I’m really excited this coming playoffs. Tignan namin kung nasaan na talaga yung team namin,” said Tenorio.
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