Magnolia def San Miguel, 85-80 [Season 47 Commissioner’s Cup | Nov. 16, 2022]

In four days, tournament pacesetter Magnolia takes a giant test of playing back-to-back games against heavyweights.

And this could well determine if the Hotshots would claim a twice-to-beat bonus in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.

First up for coach Chito Victolero and his troops are San Miguel Beer at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and then the Bay Area Dragons at 6:45 p.m. Saturday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.

The first order is to get past the Beermen to formalize entry into the post-elims play.

If they can make it 8-1, they will keep pole position and will have a good shot at a Top 2 finish and the win-once quarters incentive as they play Bay Area, Meralco and Rain or Shine to wrap up their elims slate.

Victolero insists though that they’re taking it one game at a time, especially as they can’t look beyond a San Miguel side aching to get going to boost its own drive.

At the moment, the Beermen are standing on shaky grounds at eighth place at 3-4.