During the Manila Clasico affair between sister teams and fierce rivals Magnolia and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel last March 17, it was the Hotshots who went home with a heavy heart and with their heads hung low.
The Hotshots fought back from an early 15-point deficit, as Jio Jalalon knocked back-to-back triples to send the match into OT. But Scottie Thompson and Japeth Aguilar then steadied the Barangay’s ship en route to the 97-93 win.
“Yung last game namin nung elimination, OT, breaks of the game,” recalled Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero.
The Hotshots undeniably want to exact revenge on the Gin Kings, whom they dethroned from their two-year reign in the Governors’ Cup last season. And fortunately for them, they won’t have to wait until the next conference for a chance.
By locking the sixth seed following their 102-74 decimation of NLEX Road Warriors on Wednesday evening, Magnolia have forged a quarterfinal meeting with the third-seeded Barangay. They will figure in a Manila Clasico best-of-three series.
The 2018 Coach of the Year is fully aware of what kind of team they will face. But for Victolero, the mere fact that they managed to get into a best-of-three series than a twice-to-beat disadvantage is satisfying.
The Hotshots could have fallen to either seventh or eighth had they lost to NLEX, which would put them against either Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters – both of whom are equipped with a win-once incentive.
“Happy ako dahil kahit papano napunta kami sa equal opportunity – walang advantage, walang disadvantage,” Victolero said. “Medyo mahirap, kasi we’ll be facing a tough team in Ginebra.
“Maganda lang dito is best-of-three.”
And even if they lost in their first meeting this season, Victolero likes his chances versus Ginebra.
“Heto sobrang hirap din pero I like my chances,” he said. “We know Ginebra can beat us. But we also have a chance to beat Ginebra.
“So equal … andoon kami sa situation na equal opportunity. Hindi yung ‘pag talo kami, out kami.”
