Two teams with so many things in common, including an ultimate goal, get the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals rolling Sunday at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
Magnolia Ang Pambansang Manok and Meralco kick off their best-of-seven duel at 2 p.m., with both sides predicting it to be a tightly-fought series as they chase a seat in the finals.
"It's gonna be tough," said coach Norman Black after his Bolts dispatched NLEX 97-86 last Friday to seal the meeting with the Hotshots.
"We've had some great competition with Magnolia over the years. We've lost our share, we've won our share and most of the games have been competitive so I'm expecting the same thing," added Black.
"So it's going to be very, very difficult for us in this series. But at the same time I think we'll be very competitive and, of course, we'll be out to win."
Magnolia coach Chito Victolero practically aired the same sentiment. "It's gonna be a dogfight, a very good series," he said.
"Both teams experienced na rin sa playoffs. Marami nang pinagdaanan," Victolero also said. "Core nila, core namin eksperiyansado na rin. Magiging maganda series. I think it's gonna be a defensive battle again kasi Meralco is a good defensive team."
Hurdling each other is of paramount importance to the protagonists, who made no bones about their real target.
"Making it to the semis is no longer the goal. Now the goal is making it to the finals of the All-Filipino," said Black. "But it's not gonna be easy, playing against Magnolia."
"Sabi ko nga, 50 percent pa lang na-achieve namin sa pagpasok sa semis," countered Victolero. "We achieved something pero hindi iyon ang ultimate goal, which is to get to the finals and have a chance sa championship."
Meralco actually won their lone elimination round meeting, 95-94 last Sept. 1, when Chris Newsome's last-second layup capped the Bolts' surge from a 13-point deficit in the last two minutes. But that's water under the bridge as far as Black and Victolero are concerned.
"Doon kami natuto, na hindi kami naglaro ng full 48 minutes, 46 lang," said Victolero. "We've learned a lot from that, at dadalhin namin kung anuman natutunan namin in that game into this series."
