It’s all about tuning out the noise for Magnolia.
Head coach Chito Victolero said that the recent controversy involving Calvin Abueva hardly bothered the Hotshots.
Instead, their focus was solely on preparing for Game 3 of the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
In fact, they didn’t even talk about the controversy at all.
“Sa totoo lang, hindi namin ‘yun napagusapan sa praktis,” the champion bench tactician stated. “Walang ganon. We’re very busy preparing for this game. Walang issue, walang ganon. Tinanggal namin ‘yung distractions.”
Abueva has been the talk of the town anew after being at the center of two separate incidents during and after Game 2 of their best-of-7 affair versus San Miguel last Sunday, wherein his team got blown out, 109-85.
In full view of the public, he mocked the physical disability of Beermen coach Jorge Gallent early in the fourth quarter.
He then got into a heated spat with the wife of Mo Tautua’a after the game while on his way out of the Mall of Asia Arena.
The 36-year-old has since been summoned by the Commissioner’s Office. He was also ordered to pay a hefty 100,000-peso fine for his gesture towards the seasoned mentor, who lost his right eye in a motorcycle accident in 1988.
His actions would have understandably affected the morale of Magnolia since that 24-point rout also brought it down to a 0-2 hole in the series.
However, the crew showed otherwise as they took Game 3 on Wednesday, 88-80.
Abueva wasn’t as troubled fouls-wise compared to the last two games – only three, the fewest he’s had this series thus far. He finished with six points, seven rebounds, an assist, and a block in 18 minutes off the bench.
Victolero was proud of his wards’ fortitude.
“We just tried to focus on the preparation,” said the one-time Coach of the Year shortly after the match at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. “And, the players did a very, very good job on the mental aspect of our preparation.”
Also, a factor in the victory that got them in the series, according to Victolero, was the two days they had before Game 3. It enabled the Hotshots to get enough rest and recovery after figuring in a busy stretch last week.
The team jumped into the Finals opener just two nights after eliminating Phoenix Super LPG in Game 4 of their best-of-5 semis series.
SMB came into Game 1 well-rested as they finished off Barangay Ginebra via sweep.
“The key factor I think was the two-day rest. Medyo naka-recover ‘yung bodies namin in that two-day rest. We had a hard time doing our defensive schemes because … we’re all humans, so nakakaramdam din ng pagod.
“The good thing is we had that rest, nagawa namin ‘yung defensive mentality namin and that is to limit our opponents to 88 points,” he added.
