Aces, Hotshots begin finals duel

Magnolia Hotshots and Alaska Aces both emerge from a long break expected to have done their homework and be ready for a battle of attrition right in the opener of their PBA Governors Cup best-ofseven title showdown at the MOA Arena Wednesday.

The Aces return from a 17-day rest while the Hotshots from a day longer.

Without a player lent to the Gilas team in the fifth and penultimate window of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers, the two teams have had their buildups free from any distractions.

Thus, both are wellrested, well-prepared and wellmotivated as they start their championship series at 7 p.m.

"Walang pinagbago, tablang-tabla pa rin ang dalawang teams. Ang kinaibahan lang siguro eh parehong fresh ang dalawa, kaya baka mas mataas ang level ng labanan sa series na ito," said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero.

"For us, talagang nakatulong ito. In the past week, nakabalik na sina Romeo Travis, Paul Lee at Ian Sangalang," Victolero also said.

Romeo, Lee and Sangalang had had slight injuries at the end of their semifinal conquest of Barangay Ginebra.

"(Wednesday) is the start of what I believe will be a tough and exciting finals series," said Alaska coach Alex Compton. "Magnolia has been playing the best basketball in the PBA all conference. The way they have defended and moved the basketball lets me know that we better play the best we have played as a team if we want to win this championship."

Vic Manuel and Chris Banchero may have also healed their own slight injuries, making it a much more anticipated series.

Alaska Milk and Magnolia clash in what many feel as a matchup to watch for many good reasons, most especially its similar exciting brand of defensive-oriented, fast-paced hardnosed play. —