MANILA, Philippines - Laban sa bigating Talk ‘N Text, ngayon pa lamang ay inaasahan na ni coach Tim Cone ng nagdedepensang Purefoods na magiging balikatan ang kanilang best-of-five semifinals series.
“It should be a whale of a series. They’re playing well, we’re playing relatively well,” wika ni Cone. “It could be a really, really good series.”
Magtutuos ang Hotshots at ang Tropang Texters sa Game One ngayong alas-7 ng gabi sa 2015 PBA Commissioner’s Cup sa Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Kumpara sa Talk ‘N Text na kaagad dinispatsa ang Barako Bull, 127-97 sa kanilang quarterfinals match-up, kinailangan naman ng Purefoods na walisin ang Alaska, 120-86 at 96-89 para umabante sa semifinals series.
Sa kanilang unang paghaharap sa elimination round ay tinakasan ng Hotshots ang Tropang Texters via triple overtime, 118-117 noong Marso 14 sa likod ng winning jumper ni import Denzel Bowles.
“We just have to play defense, control the boards and stay with the shooters. I think we’ll have a great chance,” sabi ng 6-foot-9 na si Bowles. “Even the last series we played against them, it was a fun matchup. We made a rivalry since the championship series.”
Makakatapat ni Bowles si dating Atlanta Hawks player na si Ivan Johnson.
Ang 6’9 na si Johnson ang siyang muling sasandigan ng Tropang Texters sa kanilang semifinal wars ng Hotshots.
“Johnson takes what the defense gives him. He’s a veteran already, so he knows what shots he should or shouldn’t take,” wika ni Uichico kay Johnson na siyang pumalit kay Richard Howell.
Kasalukuyan pang naglalaban ang Rain or Shine at ang Meralco sa Game One ng kanilang semifinals duel kagabi habang isinusulat ito.