MAGNOLIA kept its up-and-down ride, bouncing back from a loss once again and keeping its flickering playoff hopes with a 110-104 win over Phoenix Super LPG in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig Thursday night.
The Hotshots came through with a 33-26 salvo from a 50-all halftime count and fought on to move a rung up to ninth place with a 4-6 win-loss record.
Ricardo Ratliffe helped fuel their third-quarter onslaught and finished with 22 points and 19 rebounds as the Hotshots stopped the Phoenix charge and sent them down to joint 10th with the NLEX Road Warriors at 3-6.
Magnolia, Phoenix and NLEX are still alive but San Miguel Beer have the inside track at 4-4 in their fight for eighth spot.
Meanwhile, TNT (5-2), NorthPort (7-3), Converge (7-3), Eastern (6-3), Barangay Ginebra (6-3), Meralco (6-3) and Rain or Shine (6-3) are closely bunched in what could be a wild, wild race for the Top 2 and its reward of twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.
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The Hotshots gained some relief but will still be in must-situation in playing their last two games versus Eastern and Meralco.
But the Fuel Masters and the Road Warriors are in tougher positions.
Zavier Lucero and Mark Barroca headlined the Magnolia local crew with 25 and 22 points, respectively, with Pedro Alfaro contributing 14 points in 20 minutes of action in the absence of the injury-hit Paul Lee.
Ratliffe drew help from Lucero, Barroca and Joseph Eriobu as they touched off their decisive romp in the third, consequently foiling Donovan Smith's 40-point job for the Fuel Masters.
RJ Jazul, Jason Perkins and Ken Ballungay chipped in at least 13 points apiece for the Fuel Masters who failed in a bid for a third straight win following back-to-back triumphs over Terrafirma and Rain or Shine.
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Phoenix will be next up versus NLEX in a virtual knockout setto Sunday at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo. The Fuel Masters then tackle Blackwater and TNT to close out their elims stint. (SB)
The scores:
Magnolia 110 - Lucero 25, Ratliffe 22, Barroca 22, Alfaro 14, Abueva 6, Lastimosa 6, Dionisio 5, Eriobu 5, Sangalang 4, Dela Rosa 1, Balanza 0, Mendoza 0, Reavis 0.
Phoenix 104 - Smith 40, Jazul 15, Perkins 15, Ballungay 13, Rivero 6, Tio 5, Manganti 4, Muyang 2, Tuffin 2, Verano 2, Garcia 0, Alejandro 0, Camacho 0, Daves 0, Salado 0, Ular 0.
Quarterscores: 29-34, 50-50, 83-76, 110-104
