Fatigue certainly played a factor, but it was the disrespect that the Magnolia Hotshots showed the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters’ young guns that doomed their chances in Game 1 of the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinals series, Friday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Hotshots head coach Chito Victolero and top gunner Paul Lee admitted as much following their 77-84 loss in the heated semis series opener, after an exhausting three-game quarterfinal series with Ginebra just two days ago.
“We did not respect some of their guys,” confessed Lee, since it was the young Elasto Painters core – more than their veteran gunners – who buried the Hotshots.
“Kailangan matuto kami doon, including me. Kailangan matuto kami lahat doon.”
True enough, the Elasto Painters youth brigade – composed of Kris Rosales, Ed Daquioag, Rey Nambatac, and Javee Mocon – inflicted the heaviest damage on the stunned Hotshots on both ends of the floor, much to Victolero’s dismay.
“Yun yung sinasabi ko sa kanila. Pumutok si Mocon, si Rosales, si Nambatac,” he said.
“May mga players kami na hindi napaghandaan nang mabuti.”
This year’s sixth overall rookie pick Mocon starred for Rain or Shine. Mocon did not shy away from his first ever pro-league semi-final game, with a double-double of 15 points and 10 to go along two assists and one steal in just 22 minutes of action.
Vets Gabe Norwood and Beau Belga also racked up 13 and 12 points, respectively, but it was the contribution of Rosales, Daquioag and Nambatac that made the biggest differences in the close battle.
Daquioag posted 10 points and three rebounds, while Rosales had nine points in his start. Nambatac dictated the Elasto Painters’ attack with seven points, seven rebounds and four assists off the bench.
Fortunately for the Hotshots, this is only the beginning of a long series as they seek a fitting vengeance in Game 2 set on Sunday, still at the Big Dome.
“We just have to bounce back. It’s a long series. Pahinga lang muna tapos prepare na sa Game 2, bawi kami sa next game. Bounce back kami,” said Lee who led the Hotshots with 15 points, four rebounds and six assists.
“We will be better next time. Ang importante lang dito, mapa-haba namin yung series,” concluded Victolero.
“Importante sa Game Two, makabawi kami.”
