(PBA image)
Both Magnolia and Macau are turning to fresh faces in a bid to finally break into the win column in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
One of them will get the result it badly needs on Saturday when the Hotshots and Black Knights square off at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, with both teams hoping recent changes can spark a turnaround after sluggish starts.
Magnolia will debut new import Clint Chapman, replacing Nuni Omot after the latter struggled to lift the Hotshots through their first three games. Macau, meanwhile, will head into the matchup under new direction, with Marcus Elliot taking over coaching duties after the Black Knights dropped their first three assignments under Garrett Kelly.
For Magnolia coach LA Tenorio, the arrival of Chapman represents more than just a roster move. He sees the veteran big man as a much-needed stabilizing force for a team that has lacked a reliable defensive presence in losses to NLEX, Phoenix, and Blackwater.
Chapman, a 6-foot-10, 245-pound former UT Longhorn, only arrived Monday night and is still working his way back into game shape. Tenorio admitted the 37-year-old is not yet at full strength, but believes his experience and basketball IQ could immediately address some of Magnolia’s biggest issues.
“Mga nasa 70 percent pa lang, at the most, kondisyon niya, kasi nga 37 na rin at mga tatlong linggong bakante,” said Tenorio.
Still, the Magnolia mentor likes what he has seen so far from the seasoned import.
“But what I like about him is the experience na kailangan ng team ko. Kailangan namin ng experienced leader, especially on the defensive side. Sana matulungan niya kami,” he added.
“Medyo payat, pero very smart. Walang sayang na galaw.”
Tenorio knows Chapman does not have the luxury of easing into his role. Magnolia needs him to make an impact right away, especially with the Hotshots desperate to keep pace in a tight field.
But for the first-year coach, the bigger picture goes beyond chasing a much-needed first victory. He stressed that Magnolia’s focus remains on building the right habits and developing into the kind of team it wants to become as the conference progresses.
“I’m just worried about gusto ko lang makita itong mga players ko na nag-i-improve talaga. Hindi kami p’wedeng puro panalo na hindi naman kami nag-i-improve, di ba? Na hahabulin lang namin ang panalo,” Tenorio said.
Rather than obsess over Macau, Tenorio said the Hotshots spent the week trying to fix their own flaws — particularly on the glass and on defense.
“We cannot worry about Macau. I’m just worried about the team, kung paano kami mag-i-improve, paano namin i-improve ‘yung mga kailangan naming i-improve as team, like rebounding, offensive rebounding, depensa. Iyan ang tinutukan ko buong linggo,” he said.
For Tenorio, the challenge is not simply about finding a win, but finding the right mix of pieces that can make Magnolia competitive in the long run.
“Bago manalo kailangan tingnan muna kung right pieces. Tama ba itong piyesa para sa sistema ko?”
That same sense of urgency hangs over Macau, which is also searching for answers after a winless start. The Black Knights are hoping a coaching change can provide a quick reset and inject new energy into a team still trying to find its footing.
With Magnolia banking on a new import and Macau rolling the dice on a new coach, Saturday’s showdown is shaping up as more than just a battle of struggling teams. It is a test of which gamble pays off first.
