The Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok is scheduled for a head-to-head game against the Phoenix Super LPG Fuelmasters at 6:45 P.M. on October 23, 2020 live from the AUF Sports Arena & Cultural Center in Angeles City, Pampanga.
Note: Live streaming starts at 6:45 PM. Refresh this window at the scheduled time to watch the video.
The Fuel Masters will try to end their two-game woes and regain their winning ways while the Hotshots wanted to do the same as they also nursing a two-game slide.
Having a glance at the current PBA standings looks like Magnolia is sinking and in deep trouble as the squad led by head coach Chito Victolero is staring at a 1-3 slate. Yet, for the champion bench tactician, everything is under control as his team seems like in their calibration period.
“We’re still upbeat,” Victolero said. “Actually, inilalaro naman namin maayos compared sa unang game namin (against San Miguel Beer), na second half lang kami naglaro (ng maganda),” he added.
“Dito nakaka-execute naman kami, medyo may breakdowns nga lang sa dulo. Overall, we just need to tighten our defense and be more composed sa dulo.”
If that is true then their today’s opponent is in trouble considering the past winning campaigns of the Hotshots and this match is also their must-win game as next in their schedule is the “Manila Classico” where they will face the still undefeated Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
“Iyon nga lang, kailangan naming manalo dahil ayaw naming malubog. Mas mahirap kapag lumayo ng husto ‘yung hinahabol mo.”
For Phoenix, playing almost back-to-back games became a disadvantage for head coach Topex Robinson and his troops. After their sizzling start in the PBA bubble where they made a two-game winning streak, they hit a brick wall and lost their next two outings.
One player who is noticeably got affected by their schedule is Fuel Masters main shooting weapon Matthew Wright. Wright was averaging 30 points per outing in their first three games but was only held to 12 points against the Gin Kings.
With that, coach Victolero is aware that the Fil-Canadian will try to bounce-back strong as he tries to regain his hot shooting.
“We have to be consistent in making stops dahil in-e-expect naming mag-ba-bounce back strong iyung Wright tapos meron pa silang go-to guys inside, like (Jason) Perkins,” he said.