Magnolia may have lost Game Four against reigning champions San Miguel Beermen, 98-114, but their backcourt duo of Mark Barroca and Paul Lee still like their chances of winning the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven Finals.
For Barroca and Lee, the Hotshots have the Beermen right where they want them – in a deadlock. It gives them a shot at sneaking through in this titular showdown, that has been reduced to a best-of-three battle.
“Isang game lang naman ito eh. Naka-tie lang sila. Ngayon best-of-three. Tingnan natin. Sa best-of three, kapag naka-una ka, mas maganda,” said Barroca whose 22 points and three assists went down the drain in their defeat.
“Gusto pa rin namin tsansa namin. Sobra. Hindi naman namin inexpect na maka-3-1. Ang sa amin lang, ma-extend series at baka sa huli, maka-steal kami.”
While the Hotshots let the Beermen level the series at 2-2, the situation is more favorable now than when they lost the Final series in just five games last year.
And so, Lee still has faith that they will get back at the Beermen, especially as the series gets longer and longer,
“Sana ganun ‘no? Yun naman hinihiling ni coach Chito Victolero sa amin,” he said. “Habang tumatagal yung series, feeling niya okay para sa amin.
“Sana lahat umayon sa amin.”
To do that, however, Lee has to do a better job getting to his sweet spot. He wound up for just seven points on 3-of-9 shooting, along with six rebounds and two assists in Game Four.
“Siguro credit din sa depensa nila, talaga pinaghandaan din naman nila. I need to find ways kung paano ako makaka-diskarte sa loob,” concluded Lee.
Game Five is this Friday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. The lucky winner will be on the verge of bagging the ever-prestigious All-Pinoy crown.
