Magnolia avoided a dangerous situation as it clipped TNT, 106-98, to seize Game Three of the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup Finals, Sunday evening at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
The Hotshots set the tempo early on mainly behind their vaunted defense, but had to withstand the Tropang Giga’s comeback attempts in the second half to successfully atone for their stinging losses in the series’ first two games.
“I think maganda ‘yung depensa namin compared to the last two games. But importante lang dito, we have the proper mindset. Sabi ko nga sa kanila, we’re here in the Finals because of our defense,” said coach Chito Victolero.
The stars all made their presence felt despite nagging injuries, with Paul Lee leading the way with 21 points for his best game of the Finals thus far.
Ian Sangalang, with a hurt back and all, produced 20 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Mark Barroca hardly showed any effect of his hamstring injury as he supplied 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting off the bench.
BPC frontrunner Calvin Abueva made 14 points and eight boards, as Jio Jalalon chipped in 11 markers, three caroms, and three dimes.
“Once and for all, we do not want any excuses here,” said Victolero. “Sabi ko nga sa mga players, win or lose, we will not say that we’re injured or we’re wounded because that’s an excuse. We will play through pain.
“We know may nararamdaman si Ian, si Paul, si Mark, and even Rome — and even Calvin also. In this situation, nasa Finals, I think both teams naman merong ganyan e. Kailangan lang namin ng mental toughness here.”
Magnolia appeared to cruise to the victory by building a 95-77 lead with 7:49 to go in the fourth quarter. But TNT chopped the deficit to only three, 98-05, behind Mikey Williams with a little over a minute left in the game.
Thankfully, Barroca was there to stop the Tropa on their tracks with a shot off the glass. Rome Dela Rosa then followed it up with a perfect trip to the foul line to widen the Hotshots’ lead to seven, 102-95, with 37.2 seconds left.
Dave Marcelo tried to will his team back, but it was all too late as Dela Rosa and Sangalang applied the finishing touches in the win.
“We just want to win,” said Victolero. “We just want to compete every single game, we want to win every single game also. No matter what yan kung eliminations, quarters, or championship, that’s your goal: to win.”
Magnolia also weathered the historic night of Williams, who finished with 39 points on 10 three-pointers as he carried the fight for TNT.
According to league stats chief Fidel Mangonon III, the fourth overall pick has made the highest output by a rookie in a Finals game since Eric Menk had 42 in Game Three of the 1999 All-Filipino championship series for Tanduay.
The 29-year-old, furthermore, recorded the most triples in a Finals match. The previous record was nine, which was set by teammate Jayson Castro in Game Two of the 2015 Commissioner’s Cup title bout versus Rain or Shine.
“Nakita naman natin talagang kahit anong ilagay namin eh, iiscore — he loves to score. Any scheme talagang nagagawan niya ng paraan,” said Victolero of the former NBA G-League veteran, who shot 14-of-25 from the field.
Roger Pogoy had 14 points, as Poy Erram added 10 markers and 11 boards in the defeat that saw TNT lose big man Troy Rosario.
The 6-foot-7 forward dislocated his left pinky following a bad fall off an inadvertent contact with Magnolia’s Jackson Corpuz with 3:02 left in the third. He had to be carried by his teammates on the way to the bench.
Corpuz received a flagrant foul and got ejected right after as he had already been called for a technical foul earlier.
“We will include Troy in our prayers na maging maayos siya. Sabi ko nga, we’re warriors here on the court but paglabas, we’re still friends, magkakasama kami, and we don’t want it to happen,” Victolero said.
The Scores:
Magnolia 106 – Lee 21, Sangalang 20, Barroca 16, Abueva 14, Jalalon 11, Dela Rosa 9, Corpuz 7, Reavis 5, Ahanmisi 3, Melton 0.
TNT 98 – M. Williams 39, Pogoy 14, Erram 10, Castro 9, Heruela 8, Marcelo 7, K. Williams 4, Reyes 3, Khobuntin 2, Rosario 2, Montalbo 0.
Quarterscores: 26-20, 52-46, 82-77, 106-98.
