Hotshots, Painters Clash in Win-or-go-home Showdown

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Saturday’s Match (Ynares Center, Antipolo)
7:30 PM – Magnolia vs. Rain or Shine (Quarterfinals, Game 5)
*5-game series 2-2 draw

MANILA, Philippines – It’s Sudden Death Game 5.

Forget Magnolia’s stunning win in the last game and Rain or Shine’s supposed inexperience in such pressure situations.

Their opponents will have to put in one last strong performance for about 48 minutes in this tough quarterfinal match on Saturday night before advancing to the semifinals of the PBA Governors Cup.

What awaits the winner of the 7:30 pm game? KO will face defending champion TNT in a best-of-seven match. The Tropang Giga became the first to reach the Final Four after defeating NLEX 125-96 in four games last Tuesday.

The Hotshots looked good coming into their 129-100 win in Game 4, but coach Tito Victolero maintained that doesn’t necessarily bode well for them heading into the playoffs at Antipolo’s Ynares Center.

“In my opinion, there is no such thing as momentum in this all-or-nothing match because both teams are eager to overcome everything that has happened in the previous games,” Victolero said.

ROS opponent Yeng Guiao is looking forward to the opportunity to test the mettle of his young team in a battle as important as this one.

“We just played Game 5 in a winner-take-all situation, and I was very happy with that in the build-up game,” Guiao said.

“So, investing in this team is a good investment, because they will be successful.

Guiao’s offense has already shown its character in this series, coming back with a 111-106 overtime win in Game 3, two days after scoring a staggering 52 points in the previous game, and suffering a defeat (69-121).

Victolero will rely on his experienced team of Paul Lee, Mark Barroca, Ian Sangalang, and Calvin Abueva, import Jabari Bird, and hopefully a healthy Zab Lucero to take on ROS’s Aaron Fuller, Jonard Clarit, Andrei Calacatt, Adrian Nokum and Bo Berga in the finals.

“In a game that is life or death, it is the players who are going to perform. There are Xs and Os, but it depends on the players’ performance,” Victolero said.

Guiao has prepared the Elasto Painters for a “very physical” Game 5.

“We have to improve on the defensive side by playing a little more aggressively. And then as far as the transition game and the running game, I don’t know if we’re tired or we’re a little slower or we’re not able to play at our normal pace.”