ARIS Dionisio seized the moment, showcasing his deadly marksmanship as he took charge in a Magnolia-NorthPort all-Filipino duel at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium Friday.
Dionisio went 9-of-11 in a remarkable shooting from downtown and finished with a career-high 30 points, leading the Hotshots to a 100-94 thwarting of the Batang Pier that completed the PBA Governors Cup quarterfinals cast from Group A.
Zavier Lucero, Joseph Eriobu, Calvin Abueva and Ian Sangalang contributed at least 10 points each as Magnolia repelled NorthPort and thus clinched the last quarters berth in the group, joining early qualifiers TNT, Meralco and Converge.
The Tropang Giga have secured the top seeding with a 7-2 win-loss card. Left to be decided are the seedings of the Bolts (6-3), the FiberXers (5-4) and the Hotshots (5-4).
Meralco eyes No. 2 seeding in going up against Terrafirma at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the NAS. Magnolia and Converge, meanwhile, clash in a virtual playoff duel at the close of the double-round-robin elims on Monday.
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The Hotshots and the Batang Pier engaged in an all-Filipino face-off with Magnolia coach Chito Victolero opting to rest Shabazz Muhammad (with a knee issue) versus the NorthPort team which had lost import Venky Jois in a ruptured Achilles tendon.
But no problem for Magnolia.
Dionisio showed up and shot the lights out of NAS as the Hotshots sent the Batang Pier to the door with a sixth defeat against three wins.
Coach Bonnie Tan and his crew are out of it all as they duke it out with the Tropang Giga Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Lucero also made an impact with 16 points and 12 rebounds while Eriobu chipped in 13 markers, Abueva 12 and Sangalang 10 in their six-point disposal of the Batang Pier.
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It was a one-sided match with Magnolia dominating the first three quarters before NorthPort waged a fourth-quarter chase to no avail.(SB)
