September 14, 2017

Winning is all that matters for Star and GlobalPort

The Star Hotshots and the GlobalPort Batang Pier both try to steer themselves back in the right direction as they clash in a crucial matchup in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday night.

Both are like a sinking ship with the Hotshots at 4-3 having lost their last three games while the Batang Pier are in a more dire situation at 3-5 having dropped three of their last four outings.

Needless to say, both are determined to go all out to check their slump and get back on track in chase of a quarterfinals spot as they slug it out at 7 p.m.

"Every single game is very crucial now for us," said coach Chito Victolero whose Star Hotshots team is now tottering at seventh place, barely ahead of Blackwater (4-5) and GlobalPort.

"We need to have a sense of urgency to give our best coming from a three-game losing skid. We need to bounce back and we need to have the proper mindset going into the game," Victolero added.

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The Batang Pier are in a more precarious spot but they're likely to draw tremendous boost on the return of ace guard Stanley Pringle.

The prolific Fil-Am guard, who attended the funeral of his dad in the US, returned in the country Tuesday and rejoined the Batang Pier in practice Wednesday.

He's raring to deliver all he's got to make up for the games he had missed.

Without Pringle, the Batang Pier lost their last two games to the San Miguel Beermen (112-115) and to the NLEX Road Warriors (99-109).

The Batang Pier were on a win-loss-win-loss-win-loss run before reeling with back-to-back defeats.

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The Hotshots, meanwhile, were on a superb 4-0 start before going on a 0-3 skid against Rain or Shine (88-92), Barangay Ginebra (101-105) and Meralco (90-96).

They then effected a line-up change, acquiring Kyle Pascual and Bam Gamalinda from Blackwater while dealing away Allein Maliksi and Chris Javier.

Victolero said they dealt with their matchup problem with guys like June Mar Fajardo and Greg Slaughter in entering into this particular trade transaction.

"Tinitignan namin ang parating na PBA Rookie Draft. No. 9 or No. 10 kami, at tingin namin wala kaming makukuhang quality big man kaya hinabol na namin si Kyle Pascual," said Victolero.

"Ang lalaki ng kalaban kaya kailangan namin magpalaki. 'Yun nga lang si Allein (Maliksi) ang tinamaan," Victolero added.

The Star mentor said they would slowly break into the team their new trade acquisitions.

"Unfair naman na mag-expect agad kami ng malaki sa kanila. They're still in the adjustment period," said Victolero.