ARE Magnolia the master of do-or-die games in the PBA Commissioner's Cup?
The rate things are going, the Hotshots have the right on that billing after enduring no less than four sudden-deaths on the way to booking the eighth and last quarterfinals berth of the mid-season conference.
The last of those survival game came in the Hotshots' playoff against the NLEX Road Warriors, 112-81, on Sunday night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, paving the way for their quarterfinals pairing with top seed Northport Batang Pier.
Coach Chito Victolero knows the team still faces a must-win in its showdown against the Batang Pier, who holds a twice-to-beat advantage for finishing as the no. 1 seeded squad.
But he's optimistic about the Hotshots giving Northport a good fight in the playoffs.
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"We're the underdog in this series. We're down in this series 0-1. So it's another do-or-die situation for us," said Victolero. "But I like our chances."
The duel is set on Thursday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
A win by Magnolia will forge a game of death Saturday, while a loss means an early vacation for the team that reached the finals of this same conference last year.
The Batang Pier defeated the Hotshots in their lone matchup in the eliminations, 107-103.
Still, that wouldn't take away Victolero's enthusiasm about Magnolia's chances.
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"We're playing well on both ends of the floor. And pinaka-gusto ko lang is we're all healthy. I think this is the only second or third game (against NLEX) where we are fully healthy, lahat ng mga players," the Hotshots coach pointed out.
"Hopefully we can battle with the No. 1 team and give them a good fight." (RG)
