Last year’s heartbreak in Bacolor still lingers in the mind of Magnolia.
But now, the Hotshots have the opportunity to atone for that as they rekindle their long-standing rivalry with TNT in the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals beginning this Wednesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The SMC club is coming in with vengeance in its eyes after being outclassed by the Tropang Giga in last season’s all-Filipino title bout, 4-1, marking another failed bid of copping the crown jewel it last won in 2014.
Photo by PBA Images
“They beat us in the bubble,” recalled head coach Chito Victolero.
Magnolia, back then, was hoping that third time’s the charm as it was the team’s third Philippine Cup Finals appearance in four seasons. And its fingers were crossed as well that it would be the time to finally get over the hump.
The Hotshots’ first two trips didn’t go their way, losing both instances to June Mar Fajardo and the dreaded San Miguel. The Beermen went on to write history by becoming the only team to rule the conference five times in a row (2014-19).
Thus, the extreme eagerness on Magnolia’s part to rewrite their own story. Unfortunately, fate just couldn’t go to their side, as TNT went on to end a six-year title drought through a dominant showing in the best-of-seven affair.
The Tropang Giga’s conquest of the Hotshots made the MVP Group’s crown jewel the first team since Red Bull in the 2001 Commissioner’s Cup to take down all of the San Miguel teams on the way to the championship.
Furthermore, the dry spell ended with a familiar face on the sidelines in Chot Reyes, himself a former chief shot-caller of the Purefoods franchise who came back into PBA coaching after almost a decade of being away.
Now, it would be another go-around between the perennial contenders, a series that will surely garner much attention as many are curious as to how the defending champions and the bridesmaid finishers will duke it out this time.
It could be remembered that TNT beat Magnolia in the season opener last June 5, 78-72. But it’s all back to square one now as they battle one another yet again in what should be another colorful chapter of the corporate rivals.
Victolero definitely wants his Hotshots to compete.
And, of course, go back to the Last Dance.
“It’s a different battle,” said the champion mentor, whose side arranged a semis showdown with the two-seed Tropa by dispatching NLEX in the deciding Game 3 of the quarters, 112-106, in a battle that went into overtime Sunday.
“I mean, they are the defending champions. They beat us in the bubble. Hopefully, we can compete,” the former Coach of the Year added. “We will try our best again to compete and to go again into the finals.”
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The second game of each PBA gameday is live-streamed on SMART Sports.
