Ian Sangalang was left disappointed on Tuesday night, after his Magnolia Hotshots lost to the second-seeded Alaska Aces – a loss that crushed their hopes of entering the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.
The defeat was even tougher to take because it broke the Hotshots’ semifinal streak. Starting from the 2017 Philippine Cup, the Hotshots have made it into the penultimate round for four straight conferences.
“‘Yun nga eh, sobrang hirap na ngayon hindi kami nakarating sa semis na gusto namin marating,” said the 26-year-old big man.
Looking at Magnolia’s run in the mid-season tilt, it was difficult to see them making the semis at all. They started 0-2, and even fell below .500 approaching the tail-end of the eliminations.
One apparent reason for their topsy-turvy season was the number of times they changed imports – they went from Vernon Macklin, to Curtis Kelly, to Justin Jackson, and finally Wayne Chism.
So for Sangalang, he hopes that Magnolia will find the right import for the 2018 Governors’ Cup – an import who can stay for long.
“Siguro ngayon pa lang, kailangan, ngayong nasa bakasyon kami, kailangan tignan na namin talaga kung sino yung mag-iistart sa amin na import, para hanggang dulo siya na yung tatapos,” said the 6-foot-7 slotman.
“Hindi pwede yung kumuha ka ng ganito, tapos papalitan na naman,” Sangalang pointed out. “Siguro yun muna yung focus namin, kumuha ng import na maidadala kami kung saan kami pwedeng idala, yung maglalaro siya.”
“Yung bibigay talaga niya yung best niya para sa amin.”
