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Magnolia forces playoff for 8th spot; RoS secures QF slot
The Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots dominated the import-less Meralco Bolts, 129-92, last night, January 31, at the Philsports Arena to force a do-or-die match on Sunday for the 8th and final spot of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.
Ricardo Ratliffe waxed hot in the opening half as he took advantage of the absence of Meralco’s reinforcement, Akil Mitchell, who sat out for the second straight game due to back spasm.
The hulking Magnolia import already produced 24 points on 10-of-11 shooting from the field going into the break. He also grabbed nine boards, two assists, and one steal before halftime.
Ratliffe finished with 31 markers, 19 boards, four assists, and two steals, against two fouls and one turnover.
Photo Courtesy: PBA
“We’ve been playing our best basketball at this time of the conference. The ball’s moving really well, our defense is clicking, and as long as we continue to bring that same motivation, that same desperation, God-willing, we get past the next one which is going to be another do-or-die,” said Lucero, who was named Player of the Game.
Aside from Ratliffe's big game, Zavier Lucero was also instrumental in Magnolia’s win. He became the firestopper when Meralco tried to rally back in the game behind Raymond Almazan’s third-quarter surge.
Lucero poured 22 points off the bench in just 22 minutes of gameplay. He knocked down 4-of-4 from the three-point area, including back-to-back in the payoff period, to the delight of the Magnolia fans in the arena.
The former Fighting Maroon also grabbed three rebounds and dished off three assists.
“We’ve been playing our best basketball at this time of the conference. The ball’s moving really well, our defense is clicking, and as long as we continue to bring that same motivation, that same desperation, God-willing, we get past the next one which is going to be another do-or-die,” said Lucero, who was named Player of the Game.
Three other Hotshots scored in double figures; Ian Sangalang and Mark Barroca put up 18 markers each, while Calvin Abueva added 14.
The 37-point blowout by Magnolia against Meralco was the third straight win for the Hotshots while facing eliminations. And they need to win another one on Sunday.
On the other hand, Alamazan paced Meralco with 23 markers, three boards, one assist, and a block, while CJ Cansino was the only other Bolts who scored in double-digits with 11.
Meanwhile, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters secured the sixth spot and avoided a do-or-die game after defeating the TNT Tropang Giga in the main game, 106-96.
RoS import Deon Thompson delivered 22 points and 16 rebounds, while Anton Asistio sizzled hot with 21 markers, including six triples, and Leonard Santillan added five three-pointers to have a total of 20.
On the side of TNT, Rondae-Hollis-Jefferson led the team with 23 points, while Calvin Oftana added 20.
With the Rain or Shine's win, the playoff for the No. 8 spot is set between the NLEX Road Warriors and Magnolia Hotshots on Sunday, February 2, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
In the preliminaries, the Road Warriors and the Hotshots went toe-to-toe and the game even went to overtime before Magnolia took the win.
The Scores:
First Game:
MAGNOLIA 129 – Ratliffe 31, Lucero 22, Sangalang 18, Barroca 18, Abueva 14, Lee 7, Dionisio 7, Lastimosa 6, Alfaro 2, Dela Rosa 2, Laput 2, Eriobu 0, Balanza 0.
MERALCO 92 – Almazan23, Cansino 11, Black 9, Bates 8, Quinto 7, Banchero 6, Reyson 5, Torres 5, Rios 5, Mendoza 4, Caram 4, Pasaol 3, Newsome 2, Hodge 0.
Quarter Scores: 35-28, 73-47, 101-75, 129-92.
Second Game:
ROS 106 – Thompson 22, Asistio 21, Santillan 20, Tiongson 13, Caracut 9, Nocum 8, Belga 5, Datu 3, Clarito 3, Malonzo 2, Norwood 0.
TNT 96 – Hollis-Jefferson 23, Oftana 20, Pogoy 13, Erram 13, Nambatac 11, Williams 6, Razon 4, Castro 3, Khobuntin 3, Galinato 0, Exciminiano 0, Aurin 0
Quarter Scores: 23-27, 57-44, 75-74, 106-96.
