EXPECT a dogfight when surging teams Magnolia Ang Pambansang Manok and Phoenix collide Sunday in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Both the 2-0 Hotshots and 4-1 Fuel Masters are gunning for a third straight win that would give them second-running spot behind unbeaten leader Blackwater (4-0) and more momentum going to their coming games.
With such at stake, no less than a grind-it-out affair is predicted by the combatants.
"It will be a hard-fought game," offered Phoenix coach Louie Alas.
"Phoenix is playing very well lately," noted Magnolia coach Chito Victolero.
Sponsored content:
"We need to be sharp and focused for 48 minutes and we also expect a very physical game."
Alas also wasted no time pointing out one glaring similarity between the only team that has beaten his thus far, Alaska, and Magnolia.
"We're having a hard time playing against a perimeter-defensive team. Alaska and Magnolia are very similar. We lost to Alaska because of that full-court press," said Alas.
"Anyway, less turnovers means a lot to us."
Phoenix is coming off a 96-86 win over Meralco just last Wednesday while Magnolia has not seen action since a 104-87 thumping of NorthPort last Sept. 1.
Sponsored content:
That is the main concern of Victolero, whose team also got a relatively long break during the last Commissioner's Cup and promptly lost three straight to wind up seventh and get booted out in just one game by Alaska in the quarterfinals.
"We experienced this last conference and we hope we've learned from that," said Victolero.
As is usual for both teams, making the necessary stops is the biggest factor.
"Defensively, we have to be ready for everybody because right now everybody (at Phoenix) is stepping up on their game," said Victolero, while stressing the need for execution.
Stifling the likes Paul Lee, PJ Simon, Mark Barroca, Ian Sangalang and Romeo Travis nags at Alas. "Containing Lee, Barroca, Simon, Sangalang and Travis are major concerns," he said.
Helping ease some of Alas' worries is the fact Eugene Phelps, Calvin Abueva, Matthew Wright, Jason Perkins and LA Revilla have also been churning out sterling performances and should prop the Fuel Masters' bid to realize their immediate goal. (NC)
