PBA: Magnolia punches semis ticket, boots out TNT

Top seed Magnolia did not waste its twice-to-beat advantage, showing the door to TNT with a 109-94 victory in their heated quarterfinal affair on Wednesday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the PhilSports Arena.

The Hotshots, who finished the elimination round with an impressive 9-2 slate, will head to the semifinals where they will take on either Meralco or Phoenix Super LPG.

Even if they were armed with an edge, the win didn’t come off easy for the Hotshots after trailing early on before they found their groove back in the second, outscoring the Triple Giga 29 to 21 to take a 50-44 cushion at the half.

Points just started snowballing from then on for the wards of head coach Chito Victolero as they went ballistic in the fourth, establishing a lead as big as 19, 91-72, with Tyler Bey, Ian Sangalang, and Mark Barroca showing the way.

TNT staged a fightback with the backcourt duo of rookie Kim Aurin and veteran RR Pogoy pulling them to within single digit at 97-89. 

Bey, however, completed a three-point play before Mark Barroca soared for a jumper to basically seal the seal, 104-91, with still 1:40 to go.

Bey poured in a game-high 41 points to complete a double-double effort with 13 rebounds alongside five steals, three blocks, and two assists while Barroca sparked off the bench with 17 markers. Ian Sangalang and Calvin Abueva, who was playing just his third game back from an injury, both chipped in 12 points while Jio Jalalon dropped an all-around game of nine points, five assists, and four rebounds. 

Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson flirted with a triple-double 27 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds while Calvin Oftana and Pogoy each chimed in with 20 and 17 markers. 

Scores:

Magnolia 109 – Bey 41, Barroca 17, Sangalang 12, Abueva 12, Jalalon 9, Lee 7, Dionisio 4, Laput 3, Dela Rosa 2, Ahanmisi 2, Corpuz 0, Tratter 0, Eriobu 0.

TNT 94 – Hollis-Jefferson 27, Oftana 20, Pogoy 17, Aurin 13, K.Williams 9, Heruela 4, Montalbo 2, Galinato 2, Khobuntin 0, Ganuelas-Rosser 0, Ponferrada 0.

Quarters: 21-23, 50-44, 77-69, 109-94

—JKC, GMA Integrated News