Hotshots seek ‘bonus’

Bolts fight for survival

MANILA, Philippines — Sizzling Magnolia shoots for a sixth straight win and an outright spot in the Top Four while back-to-the-wall Meralco goes for a follow-up to a crucial win the last time out as they slug it out in a vital tiff in the PBA Governors Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo today.

Rain or Shine seeks to stoke the fire of back-to-back wins in a bid to tie San Miguel Beer at eighth place as the Elasto Painters take on eliminated team Columbian Dyip in the other game.

The E-Painters, winning their last two games against Blackwater and NorthPort even on the continued absence of disgruntled player Raymond Almazan, play the Dyip at 4:30 p.m. before the Hotshots and the Bolts clash at 7 p.m.

“We want to secure a spot in the Top Four, and our defense and execution would be vital in this game,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero.

“We need to have the desire and the effort. We need to surpass or at least match the will to win of Meralco. We have to be mentally tough and physically ready,” added Victolero, expecting the Bolts to go all out in a bid to stay in playoff contention.

As the tournament leader with a 7-1 win-loss card, the Hotshots have three cracks at clinching a twice-to-beat bonus in the quarterfinals.

But Victolero said they would try to win as many games they can for the best seeding that they can get in the post-elims play.

They have the TNT KaTropa Texters (4-4) and the Barangay Ginebra Kings (7-2) as last two assignments.

“We are trying to stay alive and so every game for us is crucial,” said Meralco coach Norman Black for their part.

“We are playing the number one team so that makes the task even tougher. We must match their defensive intensity to come out on top,” he added.

At 2-6, Meralco must sweep its last three games against Magnolia, Rain or Shine and San Miguel Beer to have a shot at the Top Eight.

The Bolts kept their flickering hopes alive on a stirring come-from-behind 108-105 win over the NLEX Road Warriors that snapped their six-game slump Sunday.