Early crucial encounter set as Beermen, Hotshots battle for lead

June Mar Fajardo (with ball) and the Beermen take on the Hotshots. —PBA IMAGES

Coach Chito Victolero agrees that Magnolia’s 2-0 start in the PBA Philippine Cup should serve as a good sign following a string of disappointments in previous conferences.

At the same time, he doesn’t want to be carried away too much by the Hotshots’ early success.

“It’s still too early and we have to take it one game at a time,” Victolero said.

His San Miguel Beer counterpart Leo Austria is also enjoying a similar record that could bode well in the redemption tour the fabled ballclub is determined to complete.

But with Magnolia due on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Smart Araneta Coliseum, the final playdate before the league takes a weeklong break due to the Lenten season, the Beermen are eager to deliver another statement game to buoy their chances.

“For us to win, we have to work harder because a lot of teams are really playing well,” Austria said.

The winner will secure the solo lead after seven playdates in the PBA’s most prestigious tournament before the other contenders finally get to see action.

Following the Holy Wednesday twinbill, which opens with NorthPort and Rain or Shine at 5 p.m., the next games will be on April 23 at the same venue, as the league opted not to hold a doubleheader on Easter Sunday.

The said playdate pits the debut of TNT, seeking a historic Grand Slam, against NLEX and Barangay Ginebra, losing finalist in the previous two conferences, taking on Terrafirma.

The Hotshots racked up victories over the Blackwater Bossing and Converge FiberXers led primarily by sophomore Zavier Lucero, who has been showing signs of being a major figure on the rotation.

Near triple-double

On the opposite end sees June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez as major weapons for the Beermen as they defeated the NLEX Road Warriors and Meralco Bolts via contrasting results.

Both games, however, saw San Miguel nearly squander big leads, which it hopes to prevent moving forward.

In the opener, NorthPort seeks to go 2-0 and put itself in a position to prove that the dream semifinal run in the Commissioner’s Cup was no fluke.

It will ride once more on the shoulders of top Batang Pier man Arvin Tolentino, who nearly had a triple-double in the rout of Terrafirma last Saturday.

Rain or Shine wants to bounce back from its loss to NLEX but will have to do it minus veteran Beau Belga, who is out for a month due to vertigo.

Caelan Tiongson scored 24 points in that game, though coach Yeng Guiao said it was done more out of necessity. Having the same output could still be beneficial for Rain or Shine. INQ