HOTSHOTS NOT TAKING CARNIVAL LIGHTLY
For Purefoods Star coach Tim Cone, their loss the last time out to Rain or Shine is a good reminder they’re a work in progress with new import Daniel Orton.
It’s a reality check after the Hotshots blew past the NLEX Road Warriors, 87-62, in Orton’s PBA debut.
With the loss to the E-Painters, the Hotshots are expected to be cautious as they play the Kia Carnival and 7-foot-3 import Peter John Ramos in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday.
“At this point, we’re just looking for a strong bounce back game. Our priority is getting Daniel integrated with the system and his teammates,” said Cone.
“We know we can’t look past Ramos and Kia. They’ve been playing really good basketball and we know we have our hands full,” Cone also said.
The Hotshots look to get back on track and improve to 5-1 as they tangle with the Carnival at 7 p.m.
The Carnival, meanwhile, hope to make another breakthrough after their 88-78 upset of the San Miguel Beermen last Feb. 4. After that win, Kia lost its next two games against Barako Bull and Barangay Ginebra.
Manny Pacquiao’s team didn’t do that bad against the Energy and the Kings.
Versus Ginebra, the Carnival were in the fight all throughout until fading away only in the closing minutes.
Meanwhile, the Hotshots wiped out an early eight-point deficit and erected a 14-point lead in the second quarter but failed to keep in step with the E-Painters in the payoff period with top gun James Yap sidelined by a knee injury sustained in the first half.
It’s their first loss in the tourney after victories over GlobalPort, Alaska, Blackwater and NLEX.
It’s uncertain whether Yap is ready to come back against Kia. (SB)
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