EXPECT a playoff-like atmosphere when Magnolia tangles with an equally determined Terrafirma side Friday In the PBA Philippine Cup at the PhilSports Arena.
No less than Hotshots coach Chito Victolero promised as much.
"We need to have that sense of urgency, that the game tomorrow is our first playoff game," he said on the eve of the match.
"Playoff mentality na for us starting tomorrow and I'm sure sila rin ganoon ang approach."
A big rebound from a sorry loss while stoking their drive for a top six finish occupy the collective mind of the Hotshots, who go into the 4:30 p.m. match with a 5-4 record.
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A win Friday and another one against TNT at eliminations' end Sunday and the Hotshots would secure a place among the top six, which has teams ranked Nos. 3 and 6 and Nos. 4 and 5 figuring in best-of-three duels.
For their part, the 5-5 Dyip are gunning for a second straight win that would give them a rare quarterfinals appearance and also a place among the top six.
"Nandiyan ang opportunity kaya kailangan sunggaban namin," said Terrafirma coach Johnedel Cardel, whose team has had ample rest since nipping NorthPort, 110-108, last April 24.
"Siyempre, hindi magiging madali dahil mabigat talaga ang kalaban, so kailangan trabahuhin namin ng husto," added Cardel. "Pero positive naman ang mga bata, the whole team."
Indeed, Terrafirma is sure to have its hands full.
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Magnolia is coming off a 51-74 loss to Meralco last Sunday, a game that featured several new dubious records, including the fewest points ever scored in franchise history.
Victolero said his team has moved on from that game. "We're a veteran team naman. My players know how to bounce back from that kind of game," he said.
"We're ready for tomorrow's game," added Victolero. "I told them to forget about it, let's move forward. It happens naman na masama laro mo, natapat lang na sabay-sabay. Wala na kaming magagawa doon, tapos na. The only thing we could do is to get better, kung ano man nakita namin na kailangang i-improve sa ginagawa namin.
"Ang pinaka-magagawa namin is to bounce back hard the next game and then let's see what happens, kung paano kami makaka-posisyon. Maganda pa naman kinalalagyan namin. We still have control of our destiny."
Jio Jalalon, who missed the last two games due to a knee injury, is set to return to action and help Magnolia, although teammate Calvin Abueva remains day-to-day due to his own knee injury. (NC)
