The Magnolia Hotshots had to withstand a late San Miguel Beermen rally before coming out with the 86-82 triumph to take a 2-1 lead in the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup Finals, Sunday night at SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Hotshots were comfortably up nine with 2:44 to go in the final frame. But the Beermen caught up and knocked within three with exactly 17 seconds left to play. Mark Barroca then came up big in the game’s dying moments.
The two-time Finals MVP coolly sank his free throws with 14.6 seconds to go to extend Magnolia’s lead. He also stole the ball away from Marcio Lassiter, leading to another pair of freebies with 9.3 ticks left that sealed the deal.
Barroca – who hurt his foot late in Game One, almost making him miss Game Two – had a game-high 22 points, including 10 in the third where Magnolia led by 11. He also had three rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block.
“Si Mark maganda laro,” lauded Hotshots head coach Chito Victolero of the eight-year pro. “But the story of the ball game was we’re more aggressive. We dictated the tempo, we dictated the defense, and I think that had been the key.
“If we go to our game, which is a defensive game, we have a big chance,” the reigning Coach of the Year added.
Ian Sangalang supplied 17 points and 15 rebounds in the victory.
Rafi Reavis impressed yet again in this playoffs by putting up 16 points – 10 in the first half alone – on 57 percent shooting and 15 rebounds. He also had two steals in the 32 minutes and 24 seconds he saw action.
“Grabe na yung nilalaro nung captain ball namin eh,” lauded Victolero of the 41-year-old slotman. “Maganda yung nilalaro niya, at least ‘di ko siya nabugbog nung Game Two. May two days break pa siya in prep of Game Four.”
Arwind Santos led the Beermen with 19 points on 8-of-22 shooting and 12 rebounds. June Mar Fajardo got limited to just 17 points on 4-of-11 shooting with 14 rebounds, while Terrence Romeo chimed in 15 markers on 13 attempts.
Marcio Lassiter, who had 15 points back in Game Two, only had six points.
Game Four of the best-of-seven series is on Wednesday, May 8, still at the Big Dome.
The Scores:
Magnolia 86 – Barroca 22, Sangalang 17, Reavis 16, Lee 8, Jalalon 7, Dela Rosa 7, Pascual 6, Ramos 3, Brondial 0, Simon 0, Melton 0.
San Miguel 82 – Santos 19, Fajardo 17, Romeo 15, Cabagnot 11, Lassiter 6, Ross 7, Standhardinger 7, Rosser 0, Nabong 0, Pessumal 0.
Quarterscores: 21-24, 36-45, 66-58, 86-82.
