Sunday, December 2, 2007
Repeat or Revenge: A Magnolia Beverage Masters vs Talk N Text Phone Pals (2nd Round) Primer
Magnolia Beverage Masters battle the Talk and Text Phone Pals in today's game header for the second time this conference. On their first meeting, Talk and Text defeated Magnolia Beverage Masters, 100-94 at the Fresnedi Gym in Muntinlupa. The phone pals started strong on that game and lead Magnolia Beverage Masters 12-3 right on the opening quarter. Magnolia Beverage Masters eventually never recovered but put up a determined chase until the last buzzer.
Magnolia Beverage Masters would attempt to win back to back games, which they have done on their first 2 games. Since then, Magnolia Beverage Masters stayed in a roller-coaster ride winning a game and losing the next game. At a 6-4 standing, Magnolia Beverage Masters will try to even solo third placer Alaska milk with a 7-4 card.
Magnolia Beverage Masters played its best game ever this conference last Friday by beating the Purefoods Tender Juicy giants, 108-86. The win would certainly boost the team's confidence against the slumping
phone pals. Talk and Text sports a 5-5 record in the fifth spot but coming off a two-game loosing skid.
Keys to winning the game:
1. Play suffocating defense
Just like in the game against Purefoods, Magnolia Beverage Masters should continue to play good team defense in order to neutralize the phone pals scoring machines.
2. Control the boards
Talk and Text is a tall team with many bigmen able to grab the boards. Even if Asi is no longer around, Ali Peek would certainly be a big headache in rebounding.
3. Ball rotation and player spacing
The ball was evenly shared during the win over PF with 5 players scoring in double digit. Spacing is also important to enable the big men to operate the paint.
4. Attack the paint
Magnolia Beverage Masters big men started the first half by attacking the paint getting the PF bigmen in early foul trouble. Enrico and Eman spearheaded that attack.
5. Outside shooters should click
With the bigmen controlling the boards, our outside snippers eventually got the confidence draining threes and short range jumpers. Chris Calaguio shows why he is deadly as as ever when he drained 5 three point shots in 7 tries.
Magnolia Beverage Masters should be careful of:
1. Complacency
Sure they win big time against Purefoods last Friday. But that is just one game. Talk and Text is another case. Underestimating this team will be a big mistake.
I expect this game to be an exciting one. This will start the Phone Pals campaign without Asi Taulava guarding the post. Magnolia Beverage Masters should capitalize on the chemistry factor that was brought in when Ali Peek swapped places with Asi Taulava.
Will the Talk and Text Phone pals repeat or Magnolia Beverage Masters will get its sweet revenge? You be the judge!
1 comment:
Yay for Magnolia! It was a sweet, sweet victory.
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