The manner in which Magnolia discovered ways to get through the stormy opening show against Phoenix on Wednesday could be the gist of how either team will win the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semi-final series.

“We could not get our groove,” confessed coach Chito Victolero following the Hotshots winning 82-79 over the Fuel Masters at Smart Araneta Coliseum. “I advised them that we need to fight every single shot and that we must demonstrate our mental toughness.”

Magnolia played a match which saw each team fail to make at least 40% of their shots. The import Tyler Bey shrugged off his own issues with a three-pointer after a drop-off from Paul Lee with 1:27 to play.

Bey who, after slamming off TNT in the quarterfinals, was described as possibly the biggest factor in Magnolia’s hopes of claiming their first PBA title following the Governors’ Cup of 2018. Governors’ Cup, expects to witness new developments that will challenge the team’s goal in Game 2.

“For me I don’t feel the pressure. I’m just going to have to improve and keep trying,” said Bey as the Hotshots attempt to take on the Fuel Masters for a second time on Friday night at the Mall of Asia Arena. “It’s an important game, it’s the second game of the series. We need to revisit our drawing boards, get more efficient and also take our lessons the lessons we made.”