MAGNOLIA avoided any fourth quarter meltdown to hold off Phoenix Super LPG, 89-79, Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena and complete the PBA Commissioner's Cup finals cast.
Mark Barroca sparked the Hotshots' surge to an early 17-point lead they stretched to as much as 21 points, before the likes of Tyler Bey, Paul Lee and Ian Sangalang provided the much-needed stability in the face of another spirited fightback by the Fuel Masters.
After bouncing back from an 85-103 defeat in Game 3 and sealing a 3-1 victory in the best-of-five semifinals duel, Magnolia now looks forward to the race-to-four matchup with early finalist San Miguel Beer starting Friday.
Barroca led the way for Magnolia with 21 points and showed little ill effects of a right hamstring strain when he boomed in a triple that gave his side an 83-68 cushion, going to the last 3:44 of the game.
Bey had 20 points and as many rebounds, Sangalang came off the bench for 12 points while Lee only had six points but issued four of his six dimes in the fourth quarter, mostly to Bey and Sangalang for baskets down low that paved the wire-to-wire win.
Sponsored content: Magnolia coach Chito Victolero is not yet looking ahead to the SMB series, simply glad for the moment his team managed to hurdle Phoenix's tough stance.
"I would like to give credit to (Phoenix) coach Jamike (Jarin) and the whole organization of Phoenix. They did a very, very good job," said Victolero. "Actually, it was a battle. Walang tulugan. They gave us a very, very good fight and hats off to coach Jamike. Talagang pinag-isip niya kaming buong coaching staff."
Victolero also said the lessons learned from the Game 3 loss, in which they got outscored, 65-34, in the second half, also served the Hotshots in good stead.
"We just stayed composed and at the same time we went to our strength, which is our defense," offered Victolero. "We talked about it at halftime. We expected a run from them. But, iyon nga, we stayed calm, we weathered the storm and iyon nga. Kailangan lang naming maging composed na nagawa naman namin."
Indeed, Phoenix refused to go down without a fight, threatening to turn the game around by riding skipper RJ Jazul's shoulders most for a 13-4 run to start the third period that whittled its deficit to just 51-53.
Sponsored content: Bey, however, completed a three-point play that sparked a balanced 17-2 surge that gave Magnolia a 70-53 lead.
It was Sean Manganti's turn to spearhead another Phoenix uprising in the final quarter that put the Fuel Masters within 74-83, but the Hotshots proved steadier in the endgame with Sangalang and Bey providing the points and Lee the leadership.
Johnathan Williams led Phoenix with 17 points and 17 rebounds with RR Garcia coming off the bench for 15 markers and Jazul and Manganti chipping in at least 10 points each when Jason Perkins could only come up with six points.(NC)
