MAGNOLIA managed to hang tough in the stretch this time around and fanned its hopes of making the playoffs by carving out an 89-84 win over fellow struggler Terrafirma Friday in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Finally free of pain from his right shoulder suffered right on the Hotshots' second game, Ricardo Ratliffe tallied 32 points and 14 rebounds, with his inside bucket pegging what would prove to be the final score with just 29.3 seconds remaining.
Magnolia's third win in eight outings became official after its defense prevented Terrafirma from launching a decent shot from long distance.
Winning coach Chito Victolero lauded his players for surviving a tough stance put up by the Dyip, who fell to a 0-9 slate and officially out of the running for a slot in the eight-team quarterfinals.
"I think they (Dyip) played well. For the last three games they've been playing well. I told the players it's a matter of who wants it more because their backs are also against the wall, do-or-die situation also for Terrafirma," said Victolero.
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"It was another grinding game for us. Siguro iyan na tema ng mga games namin, always close," added Victolero, whose team lost their previous games by an average of three points.
"This time we closed the game, we were disciplined down the stretch. We found the right guy in the last few seconds of the game. Credit to the players because there is pressure but they are always there to execute on both ends of the floor."
Lucero is simply glad his team managed to hurdle its first test of the new year. "I don't think we needed any more fuel. Everyone can see how our games have turned out," he said. "We've lost a lot of tough ones so... we gotta win games. Either we win or go home, pretty much."
The task is far from done for the Hotshots as they still need to win all of their remaining four games to fully realize a slot in the next round.
That target remained within sight after Zavier Lucero added 16 points, anchored ona perfect 12-of-12 free throw shooting, Ian Sangalang 13 points and seven boards, and Jerom Lastimosa 11. Mark Barroca scored only four points but dished out 11 assists to help make up for the absence of the injured Paul Lee.
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Still, it was Ratliffe who provided the biggest boost with seven of his points coming in the fourth period that enabled Magnolia to come out on top of a game that featured seven deadlocks and 19 lead changes.
"I talked to him about being aggressive on both ends of the floor," said Victolero. "The break, kumbaga, maganda iyon para kay Ricardo kasi na-rest na iyung body niya as well as iyung injury niya. With the help of the locals, hopefully we can have a good run these next few games."
In his best game yet for Terrafirma since coming over from Ginebra, Stanley Pringle notched 22 points and five rebounds while Brandon Edwards scored only 14 points but boomed in a pair of triples in the fourth quarter that kept the Dyip close.
Kevin Ferrer failed to sustain a hot start but still wound up with 11 points for Terrafirma, which got terribly outrebounded, 35-55, but made up for that a bit by bottoming a total 10 treys. (NC)
The Scores :
MAGNOLIA 89 - Ratliffe 32, Lucero 17, Sangalang 13, Lastimosa 11, Dionisio 8, Barroca 4, Alfaro 2, Ahanmisi 2, Balanza 0, Abueva 0, Laput 0, Dela Rosa 0, Mendoza 0.
TERRAFIRMA 84 - Pringle 22, Edwards 14, Ferrer 11, Nonoy 8, Paraiso 7, Manuel 6, Catapusan 5, Romeo 3, Carino 2, Hernandez 0, Melecio 0, Ramos 0.
QUARTERS: 28-25, 41-40, 68-66, 89-84.
