MAGNOLIA aims to waste no time as it clashes with Alaska in Game Six of the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup best-of-seven Finals series on Wednesday at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.
The Hotshots stole Game Five from the Aces, 79-78, last Friday for a 3-2 series lead and move one win shy of ending a four-year title drought.
Game time is at 7 p.m. and Head Coach Chito Victolero couldn’t wait to finally give the franchise its first crown since its grand slam season in 2014.
“This is the best gift we can give to ourselves. The opportunity is there so we will try to grab it,” Victolero said.
Victolero, however, knew that the task is easier said than done.
“But this will be tough for us. Alaska is really a good opponent, and as almost everybody says, close-out game is the toughest game to play,” he added.
“So our approach is the same from the beginning of the series—we’ll treat the game as a knockout game,” he stressed.
The Hotshots narrowly escaped the Aces behind a late Paul Lee jumper that gifted them the victory last Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Magnolia’s reinforcement, Romeo Travis, drove to the basket but was blocked by Best Import Mike Harris.
Lee, the Best Player of the Conference, was lucky enough to pick the loose ball and sank the game-winner with 1.3 second left.
Ian Sangalang was on a good offensive night in Game Five with a team-high 20 points. Backcourt duo Marc Barroca and Jio Jalalon added 14 and 13 points, respectively, while Lee contributed 11.
Alaska Head Coach Alex Compton believed his team got what it takes to extend the series to a winner-take-all Game Seven.
“We’ll certainly do it,” Compton said.
Harris topscored for the Aces in the previous match with 28 points, with Simon Enciso and Kevin each chipping in 13 points.