Magnolia no longer allowed any let-up to take place as it finished off Phoenix Super LPG, 89-79, to set the stage for the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup Finals, Wednesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
The Hotshots already led by as much as 21 in the second half but still needed to ward off the hard-fighting Fuel Masters late in the game on the way to forging a best-of-7 series with San Miguel for the crown starting Friday.
“We just stayed composed and at the same time we went to our strength, which is our defense,” offered head coach Chito Victolero.
“We talked about it at halftime. We expected a run from them. But, iyon nga, we stayed calm, we weathered the storm and iyon nga. Kailangan lang naming maging composed na nagawa naman namin,” he added.
Mark Barroca led the way with 21 points, including 16 in the first half, alongside four rebounds and five assists in the win that sent the franchise to its first trip to the Last Dance since the 2021 Philippine Cup in Bacolor, Pampanga.
Tyler Bey came through with a 20-20 performance, while Ian Sangalang supplied 12 markers off the bench as the frontcourt tandem delivered the crucial baskets down the stretch that ultimately allowed them to escape.
“It was a battle. Walang tulugan,” said Victolero of the entire series against the youth-laden Fuel Masters. “They gave us a very, very good fight and hats off to coach Jamike. Talagang pinag-isip niya kaming buong coaching staff.”
Johnathan Williams, meanwhile, finished with 17 points and 17 rebounds. RR Garcia made 15 points, while RJ Jazul and Sean Manganti added 11 and 10, respectively in the loss that kept them in search of their first Finals stint.
Still, it was a gallant stand shown by Phoenix, who got to within just two early in the third until Bey led a 17-2 rally to give Magnolia a 70-53 edge.
And even if Barroca gave the Hotshots a 15-point advantage heading into the game’s last four minutes, Coach Jamike Jarin’s wards still tried to come back behind Sean Manganti and got to within just nine a couple of times.
But Victolero’s crew was just too experienced, with the Bey-Sangalang tandem joining hands with star guard Paul Lee to wrap it up.
The Scores:
Magnolia 89 – Barroca 21, Bey 20, Sangalang 12, Dionisio 8, Dela Rosa 7, Lee 6, Tratter 6, Jalalon 5, Laput 4, Reavis 0, Ahanmisi 0, Abueva 0.
Phoenix Super LPG 79 – Williams 17, Garcia 15, Jazul 11, Manganti 10, Perkins 6, Alejandro 5, Tio 5, Muyang 4, Tuffin 3, Rivero 3, Soyud 0, Mocon 0, Verano 0, Camacho 0.
Quarterscores: 29-16, 49-38, 70-53, 89-79.
