WHETHER Phoenix Super LPG’s dream run would continue or Magnolia can ultimately give the former a rude awakening would be known starting Wednesday when they kick off their PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals duel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Fuel Masters, not on too many oddsmakers’ radar before the season started, kept the surprises coming by disposing of No. 5 Meralco Bolts in the deciding game of their quarterfinal series only last Sunday to earn only their third semis stint.
“The fairy tale continues,” said Phoenix coach Jamike Jarin moments after that match, just two days after his side absorbed a 106-117 triple overtime loss to the same team at the start of the duel.
Game 1 of the best-of-five series is set at 4p.m.
“We’re not supposed to be here. At the start of the conference nobody predicted we’d be in the top four,” added Jarin. “But we’re not just happy to make it to the semifinals. We will continue to play harder and, hopefully, things fall our way and we’ll win some games.”
The top-seeded Hotshots, on the other hand, made short work of the eighth-ranked TNT Tropang Giga last week, giving coach Chito Victolero’s charges ample time to prepare and brace for what he expects to be a very tough best-of-five series.
That offers little comfort for Victolero. “They’re relatively young kaya ‘yung recovery period nila sandali lang,” he said, before pointing out another factor going Phoenix’s way.
“Maganda inilalaro nila ngayon,” noted Victolero. “Tapos coming from the two tough games against Meralco, ‘yung character mo mabubuo doon, ‘yung maturity ng players mapapadali doon.”
Magnolia actually beat Phoenix, 107-92, in their lone elimination round meeting last Nov. 12, but Victolero was quick to brush that off while citing Phoenix import Johnathan Williams as his main concern.
“They have a very, very good import. Ang kailangan naming gawin, how we can contain ‘yung domination ng import niya. I think sobrang nag-improve yung import niya since nakalaban naming sila sa elimination,” said Victolero.
“We need to contain also ‘yung activity level, contributions, ng mga young guys niya, the likes of Kenneth Tuffin, (Tyler) Tio and (Javee) Mocon. Also, ‘yung (Jason) Perkins na one of our biggest matchup problems,” added Victolero.
“I think we have the material para sa proper matchups naman. ‘Yung import lang talaga main problem. Hindi naman namin mai-stop, ma-contain lang.”
Indeed, the Hotshots have their own arsenal which may be more stacked, boasting of not only Tyler Bey but also Mark Barroca, Paul Lee, Calvin Abueva, Ian Sangalang, Jio Jalalon, Rome dela Rosa, Abu Tratter, and the steadily improving James Laput. (NC)
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