Hotshots, Aces assure fight to the last
For Alaska Milk and Magnolia, the period between now up to Dec. 5 is a welcome breather allowing them to recover from the rigors of the almost daily grind in the past three weeks and be ready for what could well be a higher lever of championship battle to determine the winner of the 2018 PBA Governors Cup.
The consensus among almost everybody is that the 17-day break guarantees a slam-bang series between two teams that are well-matched and both highly motivated to go all out in chase of the coveted crown in the seasonending tourney.
The Aces and the Hotshots, pitted in a title showdown for the first time in eight years, begin their battle on Dec. 5 at the MOA Arena shortly after the two home games of the national team in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.
They set up a duel between two teams which have been without a title in the league in a while. Alaska lost four previous title playoffs while Magnolia dropped a championship battle just in the recent Philippine Cup.
“It’s a battle between two hungry teams and teams with almost the same style of play. It could well go down to execution,” said Victolero ranged against Compton in a duel of coaches both looking for a breakthrough PBA title.
Curiously, Victolero and Compton used to battle on the playing court in their MBA days.
“I’m impressed with Chito, he’s doing a phenomenal job with the way their playing,” said Compton.
“I think they play the right way. Magnolia is just playing so well, they’re clicking and their guys are healthy and their import is playing great and smart basketball. We’ve got to turn it up,” Compton also said. It’s too close to call. “Parehong may magaling na import. Parehong may magandang backcourt, parehong may frontcourt,” said Victolero. —