MAGNOLIA crawled out of a 15-point deficit late in regulations and roared on in overtime, thwarting Terrafirma, 121-115, to stay in the fight for the Top 4 in the PBA Governors' Cup elims at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig Saturday.
The Hotshots were still down by 10 in the last two minutes, but refused to quit, willing themselves to force overtime where they asserted themselves to extend their streak to 15 games in head-on battles with the Dyip.
"We had a bad game, hindi kami maka-execute on both ends of the floor, but because of heart and will, nagawa namin i-overtime. At noong dumating ang chance, they're veterans enough to know the situation. We executed better in the last five minutes," said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero.
"We took it one possession at a time in weathering the storm and in taking stand together, that was it," said import Antonio Hester.
As they gutted it out in the crunch, one play that proved to be the game-changer was Adrian Wong's steal off Jordan Williams that set up Hester to send the game into extra time at 110-110.
Sponsored content: And with the opportunity to steal the game opening up, the Hotshots pounced on it and thus stayed in the race for the Top 4 at 6-4.
With their sixth win in their last seven games, Hester and his teammates pulled even again with the Meralco Bolts at fifth place, with a chance to catch up with of at least three teams in the Top 4 in San Miguel Beer (7-2), Barangay Ginebra (6-2) and NLEX (7-3).
The Hotshots go for a 7-4 closing mark in the one-round-robin elims versus Blackwater on Wednesday at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.
They set out for that match coming off two straight wins, including this one that they salvaged mainly on the no-quit stands of Hester, Mark Barroca, Jio Jalalon, Calvin Abueva and Wong.
Hester collected 40 points and 17 rebounds against the 45 points and eight boards of his Terrafirma counterpart who sizzled through the first three quarters but slowed down at winning time.
Sponsored content: Abueva, Barroca and Paul Lee contributed 16 points each while Jalalon put in 13. Abueva finished with a double-double effort as he also shared 17 boards. (SB)
The Scores:
Magnolia 121 - Hester 40, Lee 16, Abueva 16, Barroca 15, Jalalon 13, Dionisio 8, Wong 6, Dela Rosa 3, Corpuz 3, Escoto 0, Reavis 0, Laput 0, Mendoza 0.
Terrafirma 115- J.Williams 45, Tiongson 19, Camson 11, Cabagnot 10, Ferrer 8, Daquioag 7, Cahilig 5, Gabayni 4, Alolino 2, Calvo 2, Ramos 0
QUARTERS: 28-26, 51-50, 74-85, 110-110, 121-115
