PUTTING on a much better all-around effort will be the common goal of both Magnolia and Converge when they clash Sunday in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The Hotshots look to be more polished than in their 118-100 win over Blackwater last Thursday in a collision that kicked off their campaign in the mid-season conference.
For their part, the FiberXers want to bounce back in a big way from a sorry 106-117 loss to guest team Eastern just last Friday that dropped the former to an even 1-1 slate.
Speaking on the eve of the match, Magnolia coach Chito Victolero said that loss makes Converge more threatening than it already is. "They are a dangerous team for us kasi ano 'yan, mga bata, eh," he said.
"The way they played last night, very aggressive. Kumbaga 'yung sistema nila parang run-and-gun, eh. So I think we need to be more sharp on our execution sa depensa," added Victolero.
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"Plus, we need to be more aggressive sa rebounds, especially 'yung import nila maraming nakukuhang offensive rebounds. And then their young guys, (Alec) Stockton, (Schonny) Winston, (Jordan) Heading, (Justin) Arana, very aggressive," Victolero also pointed out.
"So I think it would also be a test nu'ng transition defense namin. 'Yung opensa naman namin, we need to keep executing lang para hindi kami matakbuhan. Naghihintay kasi sila ng transition points, fastbreak points."
Calvin Abueva should have been a big help preventing the FiberXers from setting off their running game, but he would be sitting it out due to a neck injury he suffered in the Bossing game.
"He's a big factor, pero there are other guys who can step up naman," said Victolero. "The energy na ibinibigay ni Calvin, plus the fact na 'yung rebounding niya, hustle, 'yun 'yung mga ma-mi-miss namin. Pero I told the other guys na they need to step up, especially those na ka-posisyon niya."
Aside from Converge's locals, Victolero also pinpointed Cheick Diallo as one big problem after the 28-year-old Mali native racked up a conference-high 43 points, on top of nine boards, in that loss to the Hong Kong-based squad.
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The one-time Coach of the Year, however, believes his team would be able to sort things out as the conference goes on and the local Hotshots have had more time to jell with Ricardo Ratliffe, who marked his return to the league with 30 points and 18 rebounds against Blackwater. (RG)
