Victolero: We’ll not relax; Compton: We’ll keep going

Game 3 is not to get easier

MANILA, Philippines — Magnolia guard Paul Lee swears he’s never been in a tougher series that he is not secure and comfortable even with their 2-0 lead in the PBA Governors Cup Finals.

“It’s really a tough slam-bang battle that you can’t feel the 2-0 lead. You really expect another tough grind in the next game that anything can happen. It’s tough,” said Lee ahead of Game Three of the best-of-seven titular series slated at 6:30 p.m. tonight over at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.

The Hotshots scored a lopsided 100-84 win in Game One but went through a wringer in Game Two where the Aces came out in their old pesky form. Magnolia, however, pulled through just the same, 77-71, to push Alaska deeper into the hole.

But it looks like the title playoff has barely started Friday, with the Aces vowing to work harder and push harder to get back into the series.

“We’re gonna keep on going and keep on going. We’re gonna battle,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton. “If this is a three-game series, it’s over. But I don’t think this is over yet.”

Magnolia coach Chito Victolero, meanwhile, said they’re not deviating from how they play and how they treat the game. “We’ll stick on playing one game at a time, with a mindset that it’s a do-or-die game,” he said.

The two teams both came out as the defensive-minded teams that they are Friday, engaging in a defensive battle that the Hotshots won in shutting out the Aces in the last five minutes of the ball game.

Alaska bled for only six points in the fourth quarter, and Compton rued the 26 turnovers they committed and the 18 free throws they yielded to the Hotshots.

The Alaska bench chieftain gave the Hotshots the credit for their tough defensive effort but at the same time called the attention of the referees for allowing more leeway for the Magnolia guards.

“I’ve not yet once publicly complained about officiating, but those guys fouled a lot, and they didn’t get a call for it,” said Compton, referring to pesky defenders Mark Barroca and Jio Jalalon.

“I’m all for good defense, and I know those guys are great defenders. But a foul is a foul,” Compton pointed out. “If you’re karate-chopping, pushing somebody or you’re leaving your foot so you’ll trip a ball handler, it’s a foul. And it’s a big part of the game, and for whatever reason, they didn’t want to call it.”

  For the record, the Aces were assessed 21 fouls as against the Hotshots’ 18 in Game Two in a duel of pressing defense.

“It all started on our defense at the start of the fourth quarter. It’s about mental toughness and the desire to win,” said Jalalon, the biggest catalyst in their fourth-quarter romp.

The Aces played much, much tougher from their loss Wednesday, enjoying the lead for most of the way only to succumb from a no-quarter-taken, no-quarter-given ending of the match.

They were ahead by one at 71-70 before going scoreless in the last five minutes of the game.