Zavier Lucero and Magnolia held off a late rally by TNT to escape with an 88-83 victory and secure the second twice-to-beat advantage in the 2025 PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals, Friday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Lucero delivered in the Hotshots’ breakthrough, putting up 24 points on an efficient 9-of-14 shooting clip, a perfect 5-of-5 from the line, along with eight rebounds, five assists, three steals, and one block.
The rookie standout from UP was pivotal in the dying moments, calmly draining key free throws to silence TNT’s late-game rally and halt the Hotshots’ two-game slide.
“’Yung mentality namin, the preparation, I want them to feel the playoff atmosphere. I trust my players when their backs are against the wall. I trust the guys that they will perform with their very best. Credit to them all, talagang pinaghandaan nila,” said Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero.
(C) PBA Images
With the win, Magnolia improved to 8-3, earning a vital playoff cushion.
However, their final seeding still depends on the results of Sunday’s games: San Miguel vs. NorthPort and Ginebra vs. Rain or Shine.
The Hotshots leaned not just on Lucero’s heroics but also on a vintage performance from 47-year-old Rafi Reavis, the league’s oldest active player.
Reavis turned back the clock in limited minutes, recording four points, six rebounds, one steal, and one block in just over 12 minutes.
His energy anchored a decisive 16-0 Magnolia run that bridged the third and fourth quarters, flipping the game’s momentum and turning a slim deficit into a commanding 81-66 lead.
Reavis was instrumental during that stretch, sinking two free throws and converting a crucial putback.
In the final two minutes, he also snatched three offensive rebounds in one sequence, burning precious seconds off the clock as TNT scrambled to mount a comeback.
Adding to Magnolia’s boost was William Navarro, who recently joined the squad from NorthPort.
Navarro played his best game as a Hotshot thus far, finishing with 13 points and four rebounds off the bench.
On the other side, TNT absorbed their second straight loss and fell to 6-5, officially ending their bid for a twice-to-beat advantage.
With their backs now against the wall, the Tropang 5G — chasing a rare grand slam this season — are one quarterfinal defeat away from elimination.
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RR Pogoy paced TNT with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Calvin Oftana chipped in 15 points and eight boards.
Jordan Heading, newly acquired from Converge, added 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting in his second game for the team.
However, TNT missed the presence of Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, who served a one-game suspension following a flagrant foul against Barangay Ginebra.
The Scores:
Magnolia 88 – Lucero 24, Navarro 13, Barroca 11, Sangalang 9, Dela Rosa 7, Dionisio 7, Lee 7, Lastimosa 6, Reavis 4, Alfaro 0, Laput 0.
TNT 83 – Pogoy 18, Oftana 15, Erram 12, Heading 12, Williams 10, Aurin 7, Khobuntin 7, Galinato 2, Enciso 0, Varilla 0, Vosotros 0, Heruela 0.
Quarterscores: 21-23, 49-43, 69-66, 88-83.
