The Magnolia Hotshots avoided a meltdown and escaped James Yap and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 94-91, to tie their 2019 PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinal clash at two games apiece, Tuesday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Hotshots saw their 21-point lead reduced to a solitary point, 92-91, with four seconds left to play. Thankfully, luck was on their side as Jio Jalalon went perfect from the stripe, while Yap missed the game-tying three-pointer.
“We just tied the series. It boils down to a best-of-three. Happy and proud of the players, they stepped up big,” said Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero. “My players used their experience, energy, and aggressiveness to win.”
Seven Hotshots finished in double figures in the win, with Ian Sangalang at the forefront with 19 points alongside 10 rebounds. Paul Lee made 15 points and five boards, while Jalalon had 12 points, four caroms, and four dimes.
The Hotshots took control right from the start when they opened the game with an 8-0 run. They then turned it up in the second frame, going on a 24-8 blitz to turn a slim five-point lead to a 54-33 advantage.
The game even looked all but settled when Rain or Shine lost head coach Caloy Garcia with 1:43 left in the third quarter. Garcia incurred his second technical foul of the night for his complains on officiating.
But the Elasto Painters still fought back in the final frame. From a 68-85 deficit with less than nine minutes to go, Rain or Shine knocked within one, 92-91, after a Maverick Ahanmisi lay-up with four seconds left to play.
Jio Jalalon then sank both of his freebies with 3.1 seconds left to stretch the Hotshots’ lead to three. The Elasto Painters still had a chance to send the game into an extra period, but Yap’s three-pointer missed.
“We knew Rain or Shine will come back. Hinintay namin but the thing is we held on to our lead. Hind madaling kalaban ang Rain or Shine. But a win is a win, whether is twenty, three or one. I will take it. It’s a series,” said Victolero.
Yap had his best game of the series – and best scoring output this conference – producing 24 points to lead Rain or Shine. The two-time league Most Valuable Player also collected six rebounds and an assist
Gabe Norwood had a rare show of emotion with 2:06 left in the second frame that resulted in a technical foul; still, he added 10 markers, eight boards, three steals, and a block in the loss. Meanwhile, Javee Mocon added 14 points.
Game Five will be on Wednesday, April 24, at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
The Scores:
Magnolia 94 – Sangalang 19, Lee 15, Jalalon 12, Melton 11, Barroca 11, Reavis 10, Dela Rosa 10, Brondial 4, Ramos 2, Herndon 0, Simon 0.
Rain or Shine 91 – Yap 24, Mocon 14, Norwood 10, Nambatav 9, Borboran 9, Belga 7, Ahanmisi 7, Daquioag 5, Ponferada 4, Rosales 2, Torres 0.
Quarterscores: 28-20, 56-37, 80-64, 94-91.
