TWICE-TO-BEAT LUXURY ON THEIR CROSSHAIRS
The Purefoods Star Hotshots know the perils of a “twice-to-beat” disadvantage in PBA playoffs, having experienced it just last conference where they saw the end of their four-conference title run.
Thus they’re showing great determination to be on the other side – the safer ground where they would enjoy the “twice-to-beat” advantage.
But that’s exactly where the Meralco Bolts also want to be. The Bolts happened to be the Hotshots’ tormentors in the last Philippine Cup quarterfinals.
Purefoods and Meralco both pursue their Top Two aspirations as they square off in a key match in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum at 7 p.m.Friday.
“At this point, every team is playing for their playoffs lives, so every team is dangerous. For us, the playoffs have come early because every game is playoff-like now and to win, you have to impose your will,” said Purefoods coach Tim Cone.
“Simply put we have to win to have a chance to get the twice to beat advantage. We are playing a very good Purefoods team so we will have to play with a lot of energy and we must execute on both ends of the court,” said Meralco coach Norman Black.
At 7-3, Purefoods is half-game up on Meralco which is at 6-3.
The Hotshots moved up on top after outlasting the Texters, 118-117, in a triple-overtime grind in Davao Saturday and then topping the Barako Bull Energy, 103-96, at the Big Dome Tuesday.
Cone and his troops, however, would not like the prospect of figuring in a tie with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters or with the E-Painters and the Texters because of their inferior quotient.
Quotient-wise, Meralco is up on Talk n Text and Rain or Shine, teams that the Bolts have beaten.
The Bolts, thus, can automatically finish on top with a sweep of their last two games against the Hotshots and the Blackwater Elite.
Cone is wary of Meralco import Josh Davis.
“Josh Davis is a guy that I wanted to bring over from the D-League. He was my guy, but we didn’t want to pay the buyout fee,” said Cone.
“He was my favorite player in the D-League. He’s like Rossell Ellis times two, bigger height. I really like Josh,” Cone added. (SB)
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