Hotshots eye perfect ending

MANILA, Philippines — After all the big-time struggles over the last five months, the endless fights to climb out of holes, it’s down to playing 48 minutes of tireless, blue-collar basketball for the Magnolia Hotshots to gain that big payoff.

The Hotshots, who repeatedly overcame odds all throughout the elims, the quarters and the semis, seek to complete the amazing tale of an underdog who reaped success by wresting the PBA Philippine Cup diadem from embattled San Miguel Beer in tonight’s Game 6 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Magnolia is emboldened by its pulsating 88-86 verdict last Friday in an eventful Game 5 where it showed steely nerves in the face of a furious San Miguel assault in the second half and the distracting appearance of a streaker in Spiderman costume. The dramatic win was sealed by Mark Barroca’s cold-blooded jumper at the buzzer, giving Magnolia extra psychological edge going into their targeted clincher at 6:30 p.m.

“I love the maturity of these guys. The experience we got from last year and last conference certainly helped us. We battled a lot in these kinds of situation before so they know how to win,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero.

He claimed the pressure is actually more on SMB, the all-Pinoy champs for the last four years.

“We’re really the underdogs here and everybody knows how hard it is to beat San Miguel. Our battlecry is ‘Believe.’ For this group, as long as we work hard together, we can do it. And we’ll work hard again on Sunday,” he vowed.

Magnolia sets out to capture the PBA’s crown jewel again after six long years. The Hotshots also vied for the Phl Cup 2018 but lost to San Miguel in five and tonight, they have the chance at payback.