MAGNOLIA’s sorry loss to Rain or Shine is going to be a huge character test for the team.
Just two days following the 98-97 loss to the Elasto Painters, the Hotshots will be playing their biggest challenge in the PBA Governors’ Cup as they face Barangay Ginebra in the first of two Manila Clasico showdowns in the season-ending conference.
The league’s two rival teams meet on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
And it’s the reason why Tenorio said the Hotshots wanted a win against the Elasto Painters badly.
“Kaya gusto naming manalo ngayon kasi grabe yung back-to-back games namin,” said the Magnolia mentor. “But it is what it is. Ganun talaga. We have to face it.”
READ: RJ Abarrientos' breakout leads Ginebra rout of depleted Meralco
Adrian Nocum proved to be the Elasto Painters’ designated assassin against the Hotshots, notching a new career-high of 31 points including the clutch drive that put Rain or Shine on top for good with five seconds remaining.
Against Ginebra, the Hotshots will be severely tested on how they'll bounce back just two days after such a heartbreaking loss.
“Dito mate-test ang character namin. I know we’re a young team and most of our players are young. But ito yung time that will test our character,” noted Tenorio.
“How we bounce back with that kind of loss or are we gonna deflate? Uurong ba tayo, maglulugmok ba tayo or babawi tayo?"
But Tenorio has all the trust in his team despite going down 1-3 in the standings – marking the second straight conference Magnolia start its campaign with the same win-loss record.
“Today was a character game for us. And I want them to feel that,” he said. “I want them to feel that, but we have to be ready right away.”
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