Magnolia looks to put top seed Barangay Ginebra on the ropes as their best-of-five semifinal showdown continues in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup.
After taking Game 1 last Sunday, the Hotshots now look forward to double-up on the Gin Kings in Game 2 at 7 p.m. today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Behind the hot hands of Romeo Travis and top gun Paul Lee, Magnolia was able to neutralize Ginebra’s strengths to come away with a 106-98 triumph and a 1-0 series lead.
Travis exploded for 37 points and 16 rebounds in Game 1 as he outplayed the Gin Kings’s Justin Brownlee, while Lee added 27 markers of his own.
The former Best Import stated that it is important for his team to keep its hunger going into Game 2, provided that Ginebra is well-tested.
“That (Ginebra) is such a tough team. We got them where we want them to be and we need to continue pushing hard,” said Travis. “We know them. We know they’ll bounce back so we have to prepared.”
The Gin Kings actually started out hot in Game 1, taking several 12-point leads in the opening quarter but the composed Hotshots battled their way back the rest of the way and emerged victorious.
Prior to its Game 1 victory, the Hotshots had lost seven straight times against the Gin Kings.
Thankfully for them, they snapped that losing streak at the most appropriate time as they now carry the early series lead against the two-time defending champions.
As of this report, Alaska and Meralco are already starting their own semis affair over at the other side of the fence.