Magnolia's Bey ready for Boatwright bounce-back game for San Miguel

MANILA, Philippines -- Magnolia Hotshots import Tyler Bey is bracing for a “more aggressive” Bennie Boatwright for Sunday’s Game 5 of the PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals.

Boatwright, who earlier led San Miguel to the finals with his explosive shooting, have struggled in the past Beermen's past two defeats.

In Game 3’s loss, Boatwright finished with 27 points but made just 10-of-28 field goal attempts and committed eight turnovers.

In Game 4, the sweet-shooting big man had a conference-low 16 points off of five-of-16 field goals.

Bey, who primarily defended the San Miguel import, said that he is “just stepping up to the challenge.”

“I know that he (Boatwright) is gonna come out aggressive each and every game especially after a loss,” Bey told reporters after the Game 4 victory.

“I know I gotta step up next game in a much bigger way,” he added.

Bey also tipped his hat to the teammates for helping contain Boatwright.

“We talked about being lionhearted, the whole team just stepped up. I wasn’t the only guy guarding him but, my teammates helped me as well so credit to them,” he said.

With the best-of-seven series now tied 2-2, the hungrier team will come out on top, the do-it-all forward bared.

“We were down 0-2. Like I said, being lionhearted. We’re gonna see who really wants it. I know next game we gotta step up even better because it’s game 5, so I’m just ready to face that challenge each and every game.”