MAGNOLIA Chicken Timplados flashes its potential when it embraces a defensive identity.
Meralco coach Luigi Trillo admitted his team was bothered by a Hotshots team that fielded a bigger, defensive-oriented lineup that keyed its 112-98 win over the Bolts on Friday PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The Hotshots inserted stopper Rome Dela Rosa in the starting five in place of point guard Jerom Lastimosa, joining a towering frontline with import Kenyon Buffen, 6-foot-8 Clifford Jopia, and 6-foot-6 Zavier Lucero, alongside playmaker Mark Barroca.
READ: Magnolia finally breaks duck at Meralco's expense
“You have to give credit also to Magnolia,” Trillo said. “They started out with a different line-up, unconventional line-up. They started with guys who can switch: They had Barroca, Dela Rosa, Lucero. I mean, it was their defensive core.”
With the change, the Hotshots led all the way and as many as 14 points to finally barge into the win column in three games – while keeping the Bolts off their rhythm.
“The last game we had 32 assists. We moved the ball well. I think they tried to get us out of our flow. So they got a big lead,” Trillo said.
the Hotshots held the Bolts, who were playing their third game in six days, to 19 assists and outrebounded them, 42-37.
“They seemed like a team that was playing desperate basketball,” Trillo said. “They beat us off the glass. 17 offensive rebounds. So we felt their despair. You felt their attention to detail. You felt them playing with a sense of urgency.”
“We didn't play too bad,” he was quick to add. “I thought we had a chance in the game. But they were the better team in that fourth quarter.”
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