Magnolia and Alaska Milk press their Top Four aspirations as they clash in a duel of two hot teams in the PBA Governors Cup eliminations at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.
The Hotshots and the Aces face off at 6:45 p.m. in a showdown between two teams half-game apart in the team standings. Magnolia is at 6-1 while Alaska is at 5-1.
The two sides have high regards for one another.
"Magnolia is obviously playing great basketball. Their guards are making shots and creating opportunities for themselves and their teammates," said Alaska coach Alex Compton.
"Romeo Travis is a very intelligent import who fits perfectly in their system. Paul Lee, Mark Barroca, Jio Jalalon and Ian Sangalang are all Gilas veterans for a reason, so we will need to be extremely sharp on both sides," Compton added.
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"It could well be a defensive game since the defense is the strength of both teams. The team that can execute its game plan could well be the key. Staying together and playing together for 48 minutes is crucial in this very important game," said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero.
The Hotshots, losing finalists in the Philippine Cup, are sizzling hot, coming off four straight victories while the Aces have won their last two games against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and the San Miguel Beermen.
Truly, Travis, Lee, Barroca, Jalalon and Sangalang have been instrumental in Magnolia's rampage.
But Travis now faces a team that's well familiar with his game.
"Of course, kilalang-kilala si Romeo ng dati niyang team. But it's not Romeo against anybody in the Alasa team. We're working as a team," said Victolero.
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Travis won the Best Import Award as he led Alaska to a runner-up finish in the 2015 Commissioner's Cup.
The Aces, at the moment, have also been playing well with another prized catch in Mike Harris.
Harris submitted whopping averages of 26.6 points, 19.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in their 5-1 start in the tourney.(SB)
