Hotshots gun for QF bonus
WITH its eyes on the twice-to/beat incentive, Magnolia Chicken Timplados shoots for no less than a victory against Rain or Shine when they collide today, December 2, at the close of the single-round elimination round playdate of the 2022-23 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The Hotshots tote a 9-2 card entering their 5:45 p.m. match against the Elasto Painters (56). A win automatically grants Magnolia the last disputed twiceto-beat advantage heading to the quarterfinals.
A Magnolia win also relegates Barangay Ginebra to a best-ofthree series since the Gin Kings closed out their elims assignment with a 9-3 record.
Bay Area will head to the playoffs as the top seed owing to its 10-2 card. The Dragons also beat the Hotshots over a week ago.
But should the Elasto Painters defeat the Hotshots, the Gin Kings will grab the no. 2 seed, while giving RoS the eighth and final playoff seed. Magnolia then drops to no. 3 and will play in the bestof-three series in the quarterfinals.
RoS sure wouldn’t want any more complications and will go all out as well in beating Magnolia.
But that’s easier said than done, knowing that coach Yeng Guiao’s charges are younger and need more seasoning compared to Magnolia’s championship-tested bunch that include Mark Barroca, Paul Lee, Jio Jalalon, Ian Sangalang and Calvin Abueva.
Other than new import Ryan Pearson, who came in to take the spot of Steve Taylor a few weeks back, Guiao’s core group include a young bunch led by Rey Nambatac, Leonard Santillan, Mike Nieto, Andrei Caracut and Gian Mamuyac. Gabe Norwood, Beau Belga and Norbert Torres as well as Jewel Ponferada are the few veterans left for RoS.
Meanwhile, San Miguel Beer (6-5) takes on Meralco (4-7) in a no-bearing match at 3 p.m.
Regardless of the outcome, the Beermen enter the playoffs as the sixth seed and will be playing the Converge FiberXers in a best-ofthree quarterfinal series.