By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok seek to complete a sweep and, in the process, dethrone the defending champions Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings when they collide in Game Three of their best-of-five Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup semifinal series today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Raced to a 2-0 series lead with their 101-97 victory in Game Two on Monday, the Hotshots placed themselves in a great position to make a second finals appearance this season and a chance to win their first title in four years.
Showing tremendous will to win especially down the stretch in its last game, Magnolia pushed Barangay Ginebra on the brink of elimination.
Import Romeo Travis had solid all-around numbers of 25 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and three steals for Magnolia while Ian Sangalang had 17 points in the win.
Paul Lee finished with 14 points and Rome Dela Rosa had 11.
“We just showed will to win. The players responded to the challenge. But it’s not over because Ginebra is a strong team and they are capable of coming back,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero after.
“Winning two games is nothing. We have to win three games. We are taking it one game at a time and hopefully we get to sustain the proper mindset for Game Three,” he added.
For Barangay Ginebra, it is all must-win games from here on in the semifinals.
The Kings, who saw their coach, Tim Cone, ejected last time around for two technicals, had a chance to salvage Game Two when they came within two points, 99-97, with 24 seconds remaining.
But they could not complete the comeback as the Hotshots held tight to get the win.
Justin Brownlee led Barangay Ginebra with 31 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.
LA Tenorio had 15 points while Greg Slaughter had 14 points and eight boards.
Interestingly, the Kings were in a 0-2 hole against the Hotshots in their 2016-17 best-of-seven Philippine Cup semifinals but came out of it triumphant by going the full route and book a place in the finals.
Game Three today between Magnolia and Barangay Ginebra is at 7 p.m.
GILAS PREPARATION
Meanwhile, preparation of PBA-supported Gilas Pilipinas for the fifth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers began on Monday night at the Meralco Gym in Ortigas.
In attendance were majority of the players short-listed for the 20-man pool from which the final roster for the two games set for later this month and early December will come from.
Present were Gabe Norwood, Beau Belga, Matthew Wright, Poy Erram, Jayson Castro, Troy Rosario, June Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, Arwind Santos and Alex Cabagnot as well as Gilas cadets Kai Sotto and Ricci Rivero.
Excused since their teams are still playing in the semifinals of the PBA Governors’ Cup were Messrs. Slaughter, Tenorio, Lee and Sangalang, Japeth Aguilar and Scottie Thompson. Also absent were Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle.
The now-Yeng Guiao-coached Gilas team will try to fortify their push for a World Cup spot in China next year in the fifth window.
The Philippines is currently at third place in the merged Group F of the qualifiers with a 5-3 record, behind group leader Australia (7-1) and Iran (6-2).
Gilas plays Kazakhstan on Nov. 30 and Iran on Dec. 3. Both games are to be played at the Mall of Asia Arena.

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