Magnolia def Eastern, 107-78 [PBA S49 Comm’s Cup | Jan. 26, 2025]

To describe Magnolia’s journey in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup as anything less than tumultuous would be a disservice; the team is now in a desperate battle just to survive the eliminations.

But rather than surrender to adversity, the Hotshots are charging forward with renewed determination and a palpable sense of urgency as they prepare to face Hong Kong Eastern this Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

A second consecutive victory for the guests would elevate their record to 8-3, igniting their aspirations for a coveted top-two finish that guarantees a twice-to-beat advantage against a lower-seeded opponent in the subsequent quarterfinals.

Hong Kong Eastern will conclude their 12-game elimination round against NLEX on Wednesday, a contest that could solidify their placement within the top four, leading to a best-of-three showdown in the next phase of the tournament.

Meanwhile, Magnolia, currently sitting at 4-6, must capture victories against both Eastern and Meralco—on Friday’s finale—to keep alive their hopes of clinching the eighth and final quarterfinals berth.

Coach Chito Victolero is counting on his team to have finally found their rhythm after enjoying a well-deserved break following their 110-104 victory over Phoenix on January 16.

The Hotshots’ six losses have come by a razor-thin average of just 3.5 points, while their last three wins have been hard-fought, with an average margin of victory of only 5.0 points.

Now, they face an Eastern squad that is equally well-rested after an impressive 134-110 rout of Terrafirma two Fridays ago. What amplifies that triumph is the fact it was achieved with Chris McLaughlin playing merely the first five minutes before succumbing to an ankle injury.

The 6-10 Canadian center has sufficiently healed and will be back on the court against Magnolia, adding another layer of complexity to Victolero’s strategic planning.