The Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok is scheduled for a head-to-head game against the Alaska Aces at 4:30 P.M. on June 5, 2019 live from the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The Hotshots are back and immediately wanted to snag a victory while the Aces are eyeing to pick another victory as they welcome one of their star player.
Magnolia is just one game away to topple the Beermen and spoil their fifth straight championship trophy in the Philippine Cup but the mighty San Miguel able to withstand their pesky defense in the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup.
Now that the All-Filipino conference is in the PBA history book, a new chapter of basketball the Hotshots are going to work on.
“Hopefully, ‘yung two-week preparation namin for this conference is enough na for this game,” said Hotshots head coach Chito Victolero.
“Again, ‘yung timing lang naman ang problema namin,” Victolero added. “Sana makuha namin agad ‘yung timing at chemistry namin with our import.”
Magnolia has tapped the former Columbian Dyip import John Bailey Fields III who is a 30 points 20 rebounds player. Fields was also the world import of the Singapore Slingers where he helped that squad to reach the 9th ASEAN Basketball League Finals.
Though Fields résumé looks very promising, coach Victolero understand that there’ll be an adjustment for him until he blends to his basketball system.
“He needs to adjust pa doon sa system namin. It takes time,” relayed Victolero.
For the Aces on the other hand, they have relegated Noy Baclao to their injured/reserve list to give way for their “Muscle Man”.
Yup, Vic Manuel is expected to be back in tonight’s basketball action after several months of being in the sidelines due to his injuries.
With Manuel in the lineup of coach Alex Compton, they reached the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals but in Game 5 his production and minutes went down because of those back and calf problems.
With a healthy Manuel, his squad are looking forward that they’ll return in the PBA biggest stage this 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.