HOTSHOTS, BOLTS IN CRUCIAL TIFF
Reigning four-peat champ Purefoods Star and Meralco, two teams trying to build momentum entering the homestretch of the eliminations, clash in a crucial face-off in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Alonte Sports Center in Binan, Laguna Sunday.
The two teams are out to jack up their stock in the middle of the pack as they collide at 5 p.m.
Both have found some rhythm with the Hotshots winning three of their last four games and the Bolts getting back on track the last time out after losing three straight games.
Meralco is at 4-3 while Purefoods is half-game behind at 3-3.
“We’re still in the running, and we just need to settle down and make an effort everyday,” said Meralco coach Norman Black, confident they can still land high seeding in the playoffs.
“We’re at 3-3 and we need to build at this point. Sunday will be a crucial game for both our team and Meralco,” said Purefoods coach Tim Cone.
A win will formalize Purefoods’ entry into the playoffs. But coach Cone is not just after a spot in the playoffs.
The Hotshots are determined to get going in a bid to make the Top Two.
The Bolts eye the same goal as the Top Two gain outright entry into the semifinals.
Obviously still dealing with championship hangover, the Hotshots played just good enough to hurdle winless expansion team Blackwater, 90-82, and finally hit the .500.
Cone himself was far from satisfied with their performance but glad they came away with the win to go up at 3-3, overcoming a 1-3 start after their four-peat feat.
“It certainly wasn’t a scintillating performance. We’re disjointed. We’re not playing well with each other. We wish we played better to give us momentum going to the next game,” said Cone.
“The good news is we’re back to 3-3. We’ve recovered from a 1-3 start. We hope to build from this point and see how far we can go from .500,” Cone added. (SB)
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