Magnolia prevented itself from falling into a more precarious position in the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup Finals following an 88-80 Game 3 win over San Miguel, Wednesday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Having moved on from the 24-point beating they absorbed three nights ago, the Hotshots took control early before Aris Dionisio and Paul Lee led the fourth-quarter pullaway towards extending the series to at least five games.
Now they look to tie the best-of-7 affair at two games apiece in Game 4 on Friday at 7:30 at the Big Dome as well on the same night where the Best Player of the Conference and the Best Import winners will be crowned.
“The key factor I think was the two-day rest. Medyo naka-recover ‘yung bodies namin during that two-day rest,” offered head coach Chito Victolero.
“We had a hard time doing our defensive schemes because … we’re all humans, so nakakaramdam din ng pagod. Good thing is we had that rest. Nagawa namin ‘yung defensive mentality namin, that is to limit our opponents to 80 points.”
Six players finished in double figures in the win, with Mark Barroca leading the way with 20 points alongside four rebounds, six assists, and two steals.
Lee finished with 12 points spiked by two triples, slowly getting back to his usual form after scoring a measly five points back in Game 2.
He and Dionisio starred in a crucial 11-0 run — mostly generated from deep — towards a 76-62 lead with under seven minutes left to play.
Dionisio, Tyler Bey, and Ian Sangalang finished with 11 points apiece while Jio Jalalon chipped in 10 markers, seven boards, and five dimes.
That balanced attack enabled Magnolia to end the 11-game winning streak of San Miguel, which dated back in the elimination round.
Bennie Boatwright had 27 points and 13 rebounds to lead SMB, whose 80 points are the lowest output in a PBA Finals by any team since Ginebra’s 74-83 defeat to Meralco in Game 3 of Season 46 Governors’ Cup title series.
CJ Perez had 16 points as he overcame a sprained left ankle he sustained early in the fourth following an awkward landing from a dunk past Jalalon. June Mar Fajardo made 11 points while Jeron Teng added 10 in the loss.
The Scores:
Magnolia 88 – Barroca 20, Lee 12, Bey 11, Sangalang 11, Dionisio 11, Jalalon 10, Dela Rosa 7, Abueva 6, Escoto 0, Laput 0, Reavis 0.
San Miguel 80 – Boatwright 27, Perez 16, Fajardo 11, Teng 10, Trollano 7, Lassiter 4, Brondial 3, Ross 2, Enciso 0, Tautuaa 0.
Quarterscores: 24-15, 42-39, 63-58, 88-80
