And it’s another highly anticipated match as Barangay Ginebra stakes its clean slate against the Antonio Hester-boosted Magnolia side in the PBA Governors’ Cup Sunday mainer at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.
As always, the two teams drew mammoth crowds as they crossed paths in the semis in the recent Commissioner’s Cup, with the Kings prevailing in four games.
And it is expected to be another highly attended affair as the arch nemeses mix it up at 6:45 p.m., each side determined to push their drives in the season-ending tourney.
The Kings (3-0) are in an amazing run and incredible specifically in their last two outings where they pulled through even with a badly decimated lineup.
“We are just looking for opportunities to win games early and through injuries. Every time we get a win at this point, it’s big for us,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone, ecstatic about their triumphs over Rain or Shine and NorthPort minus ace big men Christian Standhardinger and Japeth Aguilar.
Cone anticipates their energy wearing down soon and thus they hope to win as many as they can with the lineup that they have.
The twice grand slam-winning coach braces for a tough match against what he described as a “super-boosted” Magnolia squad.
From a three-game slump, the Hotshots finally scored a breakthrough triumph Friday, with debuting import
Antonio Hester helping them to a 108-95 beating of the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters.
Hester, who replaced Eric McCree, posted 28 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and four steals in a smashing debut that brightened up Magnolia’s turnaround plans.
“Although we lost our last three games, the locals were playing well. We just need a game-changer like Hes (Hester) who can turn things around,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero.
A former Terrafirma reinforcement, Hester filled up the defensive muscle and inside presence, Magnolia was lacking in its first three games, especially with Ian Sangalang sidelined by illness.
“He gives us a post-threat. We got this guy to open up the floor and give our guards a chance to take their shots or create. With Hester, nag-improve ang depensa namin. Nagagawa namin full court, nagagawa namin yung defensive schemes,” said Victolero.
Hester is well aware of the situation the slow-starting Hotshots are in.
“That’s one of the main things we talked about – help turn things around,” said the 6-foot-3 import, who played for the Zamboanga Valientes before jumping over to Magnolia.
“When I got the call, I got excited. I knew about Magnolia’s shooters and how it fits me as a pass-first type of player,” he added. (SB/pba.ph)
Magnolia has suddenly become a big threat with the arrival of new import Antonio Hester. (From PBA)