MANILA – Magnolia Hotshots will go for the coronation when it battles Alaska Aces in Game 6 of the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup best-of-seven finals tonight at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
The Hotshots will have a chance to capture its first PBA title since 2014 in the match slated at 7 p.m. after a nail-biting 79-78 win over the Aces in Game 5 last Friday night via a Paul Lee game-winner.
“We are not thinking that we are one game away from the championship,” said Hotshots head coach Chito Victolero. “We will treat Game 6 as a do-or-die game and we will get it if we have a chance.”
“Bihira ang pagkakataon to play in the Finals so I told the players to give their best, to enjoy the moment, to respond to the challenge. I know there’s pressure but I don’t want the players to feel it,” he added.
Aces head coach Alex Compton, for his part, said that they are not about to hand the trophy on a silver platter to the Hotshots as they vowed to give their all to force a do-or-die Game 7 on Friday.
“Game 7? We’ll certainly try to do that,” said Compton. “I’ll tell you what though, we’re gonna keep going, we’re gonna battle. They better be ready to work because we’re going to keep going. I don’t think this is over yet.”
This was the first time that Hotshots and Aces have faced in a championship series since the 2010 PBA Philippine Cup, where the James Yap-led Purefoods swept Aces in four games.
If ever Magnolia went on to win the series, this will be their 14th PBA championship as a franchise, while the Aces will capture its 15th title when they are successful in turning the series around./PN
