LEAGUE leader Magnolia hopes to brandish an even better form as it pursues its hot drive while setting out with a new look in a Manila Clasico clash with Barangay Ginebra Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Calvin Abueva and Jerrick Balanza are out and young forward William Navarro is in as the Hotshots tangle with the Gin Kings in a crucial tiff that will have much bearing in the fight for the top four in the PBA Philippine Cup elims.
Going with a 7-1 card in their previous lineup, the Hotshots, now with their retooled roster, look to sustain their romp and push a bid for a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.
"Maganda naging composition kasi, una, ang laki ng ibinata namin and then in that position medyo na-establish iyun with Zav Lucero and him (Navarro)," said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero of their acquisition in a trade with NorthPort.
"He (Navarro) can play multiple positions so lumalim kami. Anything na ibabato sa amin ng kalaban, tingin ko, makaka-match up kami," he added.
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Before the trade, Victolero's troops had claimed an outright quarters entry followed by San Miguel Beer (6-2), NLEX (6-2), Converge (6-4) and Meralco (6-5).
Meanwhile, the Kings' own drive were stalled, with the team falling in a tie with the TNT Tropang 5G and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at 5-3 after a 73-82 loss to the Meralco Bolts Friday.
Coach Tim Cone's wards are now raring to bounce back, seal their own quarters passage and stay in the thick of the fight for the top four that will be rewarded the win-once bonus.
"Talagang bakbakan na naman yan sa Sunday," said Scottie Thompson.
"Siyempre lahat kami down (after the loss to Meralco); we badly needed to win para sa positioning sa playoffs. But we still have games and we control our own destiny. We just have to be better, especially sa defense namin and sa decision-making namin."(SB)
