COACH Chito Victolero has torn into pieces old game notes and scouting reports, and dumped these into the bin.
It's the playoffs, and they're playing an entirely new ball game.
"Alam ng mga players na every time you go to the playoffs, very different atmosphere, iba 'yung approach; you go to the next level," said Victolero ahead of the PBA Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals beginning 8 p.m. Wednesday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
What they're bringing from their league-best 9-2 showing in the eliminations is top seeding and a twice-to-beat advantage versus No. 8 TNT.
They're not crowing about it either, realistic it would mean nothing if they can't get past the Tropang Giga.
Sponsored content:
Jayson Castro and his teammates surely know "twice-to-beat" isn't a guarantee of passage into the next round.
They're a twice-to-beat team most previously denied of a Final 4 party in an upset by Barangay Ginebra in their quarterfinals showdown in the 2021 Governors' Cup.
And Castro and the TNT troops are taking inspiration from that in their hope to pull the Hotshots down from their lofty perch as top seeds.
Part of the Hotshots' good run was a 110-102 conquest of TNT during the tournament kickoff on Nov. 5 at the Big Dome.
But Victolero is insisting they're playing a new ball game, with TNT practically a new team on the return of Castro and RR Pogoy plus the tremendous boost they've got from Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson.
Sponsored content:
Of course, Magnolia has had its own boost on the return of Calvin Abueva. Going to the playoffs, the Hotshots reactivated Jerrick Ahanmisi in place of Fil-Am Dave Murrell.
And there's their highly dependable import in Tyler Bey.
Bey averages 27.64 points, 14.09 rebounds and 2.18 assists and is surrounded by solid support jobs from Paul Lee, Mark Barroca, Jio Jalalon, Ian Sangalang and Abueva among others.
But they can feel they're up against a fired-up team, inspired by the return of Pogoy. (SB)
