MAGNOLIA goes into a second straight severe test in its continuing fight for survival when it tackles Meralco Friday in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the PhilSports Arena.
For the 7-4 Bolts, the game is practically a no-bearing one since they are already assured of the No. 5 spot and a best-of-three duel with recent conqueror and No. 4 Barangay Ginebra in the quarterfinals.
The stakes are much higher for Magnolia, which has never failed to make it past the eliminations since the 2016 Governors' Cup, and now stands to repeat that ignominy with a loss.
However, a third straight win to close out the eliminations would push the Hotshots' record to an even 6-6 record and put them into a tie with NLEX for the eighth and last spot. In such a scenario, the two would face off in a knockout game to determine the eighth and last quarterfinalist.
The deadlock could even be a three-way one should 6-5 Rain or Shine bow to TNT later in the evening. With the application of the tiebreaking PBA quotient, the Road Warriors would claim seventh with the Hotshots and Elasto Painters battling in the KO match.
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Should Rain or Shine win, however, it would be Magnolia and NLEX playing off for the last ticket.
The chance to stay alive following a generally rocky campaign is something Magnolia intends to take full advantage of.
"We need to prepare well for our last game, which is Meralco. We know na it's going to be a war, a battle of defense," said coach Chito Victolero following his Hotshots' 107-78 conquest of Eastern last Sunday that kept them in the quarterfinals chase.
"It's going to be a defensive battle for us and we will try to see... kung ano p'wede naming ibato sa team na iyon," added Victolero.
Magnolia coming at Meralco hard is something coach Luigi Trillo expects. "Magnolia is a team na parang alam mo na when their backs are against the wall, they're hard to play," he said Thursday, a day after his Bolts absorbed an 87-91 loss to Ginebra.
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"We're using this game to be playoff-ready," added Trillo. "It would be good if we can get a win entering the playoffs but it's gonna be hard. Kasi nga Magnolia plays very physical. They're coming off a good, hard-earned win over Eastern when they left no stone unturned."
Meralco also has a big question mark in import Akil Mitchell, who sat out the Ginebra game due to back spasms and remains a gametime decision going to the Magnolia match. (NC)
