SMART Clark Giga City - Wherever spot they land in the quarterfinals, it's about trying to keep the fire and sustain the momentum as the Magnolia Hotshots take on the Blackwater Elite at the close of the PBA Philippine Cup elims play Wednesday.
"Magandang i-keep namin ang momentum papasok sa quarterfinals," said coach Chito Victolero whose Magnolia Hotshots ride the crest of a five-game romp as they set out for their 4 p.m. faceoff with the Elite at the Smart 5G-powered AUF Sports Center.
At 6-4, the Hotshots are assured of playoffs passage.
The outcome of their game against the Elite will determine their seeding in the quarterfinals.
A win can give them an outside chance to break the Top Four for a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals. A loss will keep them in the lower half of the Top Eight, requiring them to win two in a row in the quarterfinals to make the next round.
Sponsored content: On the other side of the floor is the Blackwater Elite team looking to leave the bubble play on a winning note.
They're out to salvage whatever they can in the tourney where they got off to a winning start over NorthPort, then split their next two games (losing to Ginebra then winning over NLEX) before running smack to a wall and losing their next seven games.
They had had couples of close games where they went down in defeat just in the endgame.
Last time against the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters, the Elite took control early on but crumbled in the fourth in a 95-100 loss.
They make their last hurrah against the Hotshots, with a win giving them a closing 3-8 card for 10th place, ahead of NorthPort and Terrafirma. (SB)
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