HOW ironic Magnolia suffering a 3-0 sweep at the hands of TNT in their PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinal series came right on Halloween.
The Hotshots fell to the reigning and defending champions Saturday night, 98-87, to close out their campaign for the league’s 50th season.
In all, Magnolia was dominated by TNT in the entire best-of-five series, averaging a losing margin of 17.0 points.
READ: TNT completes sweep of Magnolia, books Governors Cup semis berth
“Nilibing talaga kami,” quipped Magnolia coach LA Tenorio in looking back at how the playoff series unfolded for his team.
“Parang kuya tsaka bata yung naglaro. Starts with the coach, playing against coach Chot, mentor ko na I have a high respect na alam ko pahihirapan kami. Simula pa lang sinabihan ko na yung mga players na this is not going to be an easy thing.”
High expectations were on the Hotshots especially after emerging as the top seeded team in what has been dubbed as the ‘group of death’ by winning six of their last six games.
But at the same time, they found themselves being pitted against the fourth seeded team in TNT from the other bracket.
And true to form as the defending champions, the Tropang 5G, bannered by three-time Best Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, did play like one.
“Natapat lang kami (sa TNT). But it is what it is. Eventually, you’ll face [them] din naman, e,” Tenorio said.
“But they (Tropang 5G) showed why they are the defending champions,” he added. “Honestly, it doesn’t matter kung sino siguro yung nakalaban nila. Parang inspired na inspired sila playing with RHJ.”
In all, however, Tenorio consoled the team at having a modest season right in his rookie year at the helm of Magnolia.
“For me it’s a good and not bad first year for the team. We’re getting there, nakikita ko sa mga players. But we have to learn, we have to be ready, we have to be prepared and improved as a team,” he said.
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