New acquisition William Navarro (left) is slowly finding his spot in the Magnolia playbook—including on defense. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Magnolia coach Chito Victolero is hardly concerned by where his team sits in the Philippine Cup standings, knowing all too well how quickly things could turn on a dime in the playoffs.
The Hotshots, fresh from an 88-83 triumph over Grand Slam-seeking TNT on Friday night, are heading to the knockout stage with a twice-to-beat incentive, but they remain guarded, wary of the quality of the opponents that await.
“At No. 8 you have Meralco—the defending champion. At No. 7, it might be Converge or even TNT. All of them are capable of winning the title,” the champion coach said on the heels of the win at Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Friday night.
“So all you can do is prepare—and (just like in this game), have a chance towards the end. It’s 50-50 against these teams. There’s no such thing as an advantage.”
On Sunday, the Hotshots’ sister clubs could provide clarity to Magnolia’s future.
San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra gun for wins that will seal the top four cast and set the matchups for the quarterfinals.
The Beermen and the Gin Kings go into Father’s Day tied with identical 7-3 slates, with Converge, which finished the elimination round at 7-4, and Rain or Shine, holding a 6-4 record, possibly sneaking a spot in the top four.
A loss by both San Miguel and Ginebra will create a four-way share of third to sixth places with Converge and Rain or Shine, but that won’t mean that the Beermen and Gin Kings are booted out of the quarterfinal bonus.
What it will do is require a little math juggling to figure out the final standings.
Whatever shape the quarterfinal round takes, Victolero’s charges will be riding into their assigned opponent soaked in optimism—one manufactured by the kind of victory they strung up against the retooled Tropang Giga, who many feel could go deep in this tournament.
Through its patented defensive grit, composure and the veteran presence of oldest guy in the league, Rafi Reavis, the Hotshots finished the elimination round with an 8-3 win-loss record and snapped a mini slump to rediscover its rhythm just before it plunges into the quarterfinals, where they haven’t been exactly productive this season.
“We have the combination of urgency and confidence in my players,” Victolero said. “I just hoped that when the playoffs start, the chemistry’s a bit better. And I think that’s now the case.”
Magnolia’s chemistry had been in a state of adjustment ever since it dealt away some if its veterans for NorthPort rising star and former Gilas Pilipinas cadet William Navarro.
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In three of the four remaining scenarios, Magnolia and TNT could meet in a No. 2 against No. 7 duel.