TIAONG THRILLER
Magnolia faces ROS in battle of streaking teams
Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero is wary of Beau Belga and the red-hot Rain or Shine ahead of their out-of-town clash at the Tiaong Convention Center in Quezon on Saturday, April 20.
The Hotshots are expected to get their hands full against a very confident Elasto Painters squad, owners of a five-game winning run, ahead of their 6:15 p.m. collision.
Just like last week, the PBA is playing its doubleheader in two different venues with the first offering taking place at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City with NLEX looking to get back on track against Phoenix at 3 p.m.
Magnolia, though, is on a streak of its own, winning its last three contests behind the stellar offensive showings of Ian Sangalang and Mark Barroca.
The Hotshots are looking to close in on a playoff spot as they currently sit at a 4-2 record good for a solo third, while the Elasto Painters are hoping to clinch a playoff spot with a sixth win after taking the sixth place with a 5-4 slate.
More than the offense, though, Victolero stressed that their defense should be topnotch against the league’s top offense that thrives on its high-octane pace.
“They are the hottest team and they play very, very well parang grabe yung nilalaro nila ngayon. We just need to prepare hard mentally and physically,” said Victolero.
“This is a very hard game and very difficult game for us kasi they are also young they run and they have the confidence na kaya nilang mag compete sa kahit sino sa PBA,” he added.
While Rain or Shine boasts a bevy of young and up-and-coming talents like Santi Santillan, Andrei Caracut and Adrian Nocum, it is Belga who Victolero thinks Magnolia should limit as the veteran big man has been triggering the offense for the Elasto Painters.
“Si Beau naglalaro siya na parang all-star ngayon. He is playing very well yung kumpyansa niya ngayon sobrang taas and actually that’s why they are winning because of Belga,” Victolero pointed out.
Magnolia is hoping to get the A-games of Paul Lee, Jio Jalalon and Calvin Abueva if they wish to get back on Rain or Shine, the same team that halted their winning streak last conference also in an out-of-town game.
“It’s very good for the fans in Tiaong and talagang magiging maganda yung laban at makapabigay kami ng magandang showing sa mga taga Tiaong.”