Games today:
(Ninoy Aquino Stadium)
5 p.m. — Terrafirma vs Magnolia
7:30 p.m. — NLEX vs Meralco
Now is not the time to panic despite Magnolia’s struggles in keeping up with the tightening playoffs race in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup.
Veteran guard Paul Lee is not losing hope that the Hotshots will make a run in the crucial stretch of the eliminations to keep their quarterfinals aspirations alive albeit the uphill climb.
He and the rest of Magnolia are in the same mindset entering today’s all-important match against desperate Terrafirma at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Game time is at 5 p.m., followed at 7:30 p.m. by the NLEX-Meralco main game clash.
The Hotshots are in a heap of trouble in the mid-season tournament after falling behind in the standings with a 2-5 win-loss record inside the bottom four.
Magnolia had a bitter 2024 ending after a 95-92 loss to Barangay Ginebra on Christmas Day following a monumental collapse in a game where it held a 22-point advantage in the third.
“I think what’s important right now is to focus on our next game rather than pointing fingers at who’s at fault for our loss,” Lee said.
The Hotshots will try to fan their flickering playoffs hopes behind Lee, import Ricardo Ratliffe, Mark Barroca, Ian Sangalang, Calvin Abueva and rookie Jerom Lastimosa.
However, Magnolia faces a Dyip side tethering on the brink of elimination.
Terrafirma is sure to go all-out to stay alive despite going winless in eight starts.
The Dyip started 2025 the way they ended the previous year with a dud last Tuesday as they got routed by Phoenix, 122-108. Another loss will send the embattled club packing.