MAGNOLIA resumes its stalled unblemished run in the PBA Governors' Cup Friday, unleashing once again do-it-all import Mike Harris as the Hotshots battle the TNT Tropang Giga in a grudge match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Hotshots play the Tropang Giga at 6 p.m., shooting for a fourth straight win as they welcome back veteran center Rafi Reavis and bring in new recruit Adrian Wong.
The Tropang Giga have their own minor facelift, reacquiring Matt Ganuelas-Rosser in time for the Governors' Cup restart.
Coach Chot Reyes and his troops go through a four-game grind in eight days before taking a breather, allowing the TNT coach and some Tropa stalwarts to serve duty to the national team in the FIBA World Cup 2023 Asian qualifying games on Feb. 24-28.
Curiously, they start that grueling run by facing the Hotshots in a rematch of their recent Philippine Cup title showdown.
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The Tropang Giga tote a 2-2 win-loss record, having won their last game versus the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (95-92) to mark Aaron Fuller's PBA return.
The Hotshots have been a lot steadier, at least in the tourney's initial salvo before the play stoppage caused by the COVID-19 spike after the Christmas holidays.
"Talagang we're on a mission eh," said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero after going 3-0 with a 117-94 conquest of Barangay Ginebra in the Manila Clasico match on Christmas Day.
"Credit to the players for the good start because talagang nagtrabaho sila. And the chemistry was very good," Victolero also said then.
The question is whether they did their assignment during the lull. It's the same question for the Tropang Giga.
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Before the break, Harris was among the best performers, averaging 28.3 points, 12 rebounds and 3.0 assists.
He piled up 29 markers, 15 boards and five dole-outs in their 23-point rout of the Kings.
Before that, Harris and the Hotshots clobbered the Terrafirma Dyip, 114-87, and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 109-98. (SB)
