EMBATTLED Magnolia turned to its newfound weapon - four-point shooting - to survive a do-or-die situation.
With Paul Lee and Jerrick Ahanmisi, the league's leading shooter from 27 feet away, combining for five booming four-balls, the Hotshots ripped Rain or Shine, 129-100, to force a 2-2 deadlock in the PBA Governors' Cup quarterfinal series Tuesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Lee and Ahanmisi accounted for three of these four-pointers in the second canto as they fueled the searing 36-18 salvo that lifted Magnolia to a 62-44 tear.
The Hotshots and the Elasto Painters will go at it one last time on Saturday to dispute the coveted ticket to the best-of-seven semifinals.
"I'm thankful to the players for having the right mindset and focus. Sa board namin sa pre-game, sinulat ko doon 'it's all about believing.' In order for us to win this game, we need to grind for 53 minutes," said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero.
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"I think the players were so focused. They wanted to have another chance on Saturday."
Jabari Bird led the scoring parade with 30 while Lee rifled in 25 highlighted by a 3-of-4 four-point shooting, and Ahanmisi shot 14 on the night he moved out of a tie with
Blackwater import George King (17) at No. 1 in most four-point shots in the PBA with his 18th and 19th connections in Game 4.
It was a big bounceback and show of character for the Hotshots after their deflating 106-111 overtime loss to the Elasto Painters in Sunday's Game 3 in Antipolo. That was an emotional loss as breaks of the game, including a controversial goal-tending call, didn't go their way.
"I talked to the players to forget about everything. We lost control in that game. We agreed that after 12 midnight, all the frustrations na nangyari sa atin, kalimutan na natin. Let's go to the next practice with a different mindset and positive attitude.
This is a series, they need three wins and nakaka-dalawa pa lang sila (after Game 3)," said Victolero.
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Aaron Fuller delivered a 22-10 double-double for ROS, which got an early taste of the lead at 11-2 before Magnolia brought out the big guns. (OL)
The scores:
Magnolia 129 - Bird 30, Lee 25, Ahanmisi 14, Barroca 10, Sangalang 10, Abueva 9, Dionisio 9, Dela Rosa 9, Mendoza 8, Eriobu 5, Laput 0.
Rain or Shine 100 - Fuller 22, Clarito 15, Belga 11, Nocum 11, Caracut 11, Mamuyac 10, Asistio 5, Santillan 4, Tiongson 4, Ildefonso 4, Datu 2, Lemetti 1, Norwood 0.
Quarterscores: 26-26, 62-44, 99-79, 129-100.
