By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
THE best-of-seven Philippine Basketball Association Governors Cup finals series hits Game Six today with one team going for the jugular and another out to stay alive and force a rubber match.
Series-leading Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok, 3-2, look to complete their trek back to the champions spot with a victory over the Alaska Aces today in their scheduled Game Six match at 7 p.m. at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Alaska, on the other hand, tries to live to fight another day and send the series to a winner-take-all on Friday.
The Hotshots, seeking their first PBA title in 12 conferences, put themselves in a position of command after fashioning out a gutsy 79-78 victory in Game Five on Dec. 14.
Paul Lee played the hero by hitting what turned out to be the game-winning basket with 1.3 seconds left on the clock.
The game-winner capped what was a very competitive match that saw both teams going all-out to get the victory.
Despite getting the crucial edge heading into today’s game, Magnolia knows that Alaska will not just roll up and die and is expecting a very tough challenge from the Aces.
“It is going to be hard next game because it’s a closeout game. In basketball it’s common knowledge that it is the toughest of games. We need to prepare for the next game but also we should be mindful not to put too much pressure on ourselves and just play our game,” said the best player of the conference, who finished Game Five with 11 points and 10 rebounds to go along with his game-winner.
Magnolia coach Chito Victolero, too, is not celebrating just yet, recognizing that they still need to work and get the title.
“We are happy with the victory. But the work is not over for us. We should not be content with this win [in Game Five]. We must avoid complacency heading into Game Six and stay hungry and prepared,” said Mr. Victolero, who is in search for his first PBA title.
DETERMINED TO STAY ALIVE
Alaska, for its part, is not giving up its fight and is determined to stay alive and keep its chances going for first PBA title since winning the 2013 Commissioner’s Cup.
“We treat every game like a do-or-die situation. I ride with my guys until the end,” said Alaska import Mike Harris as he looked forward to Game Six.
The import, who finished the last game with 20 points and 28 rebounds, highlighted the need for them to come out swinging right from the start to put them in a better spot to see their goal of extending the finals series through.
It is a position that Alaska coach Alex Compton agrees with, saying, “If you will ask me, we lost in the first half [of Game Five]. We did not have what we showed in the second,” said Mr. Compton, who nonetheless praised the effort that his players showed in the previous game.
Like his counterpart in Magnolia, Mr. Victolero, the Alaska coach is also seeking his first championship in the PBA.