Magnolia breezed into the 2021-22 PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals by handing Phoenix Super LPG a 127-88 humiliation in one of the most lopsided results in recent memory, Friday evening at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Hotshots actually trailed 6-9 early in the game but that proved to be the only time that they would trail, as Paul Lee and Mike Harris led a 19-2 run for a 25-11 edge that set the tone for the embarrassment that came after.
Chito Victolero’s wards already got past the century mark when it ended the third at 102-67. And it was in that same period where Matthew Wright fouled out with 4:56 left, making matters worse for the Fuel Masters.
According to league stats chief Fidel Mangonon III, this was the most lopsided playoff game since the Star Hotshots routed GlobalPort with a 126-73 result back on June 26, 2015 in the Governors Cup quarterfinals.
Magnolia will now face the fourth-seeded Meralco in a best-of-five series in a rematch of the 2021 Philippine Cup semis in Bacolor, Pampanga.
“First of all, I’d like to give credit to all the players. We prepared hard for this game. We executed well on both ends,” said Victolero.
Eight players finished in double figures in the victory, with Lee leading the way with 25 points — 20 of which he manufactured in the first half.
Mark Barroca had 18 points and seven assists. Harris made 15 points and eight rebounds in his lowest output of the tilt yet although he didn’t need to produce that much. Jio Jalalon supplied 15 markers as well.
Calvin Abueva successfully returned from a calf injury and made 12 points and nine rebounds. Ian Sangalang and Adrian Wong had 11 each.
Rome Dela Rosa, lastly, chimed in 10 markers for Magnolia, who shot 50-percent from the field — including a 16-of-31 clip from deep.
“Now we’re in the semis. We need na magpahinga muna and then we will prepare starting Sunday against Meralco. Right now I don’t know but I’m very happy dahil nakalusot kami sa quarters,” said Victolero.
Du’vaughn Maxwell had 32 points and nine rebounds to lead Phoenix, who beat NorthPort last Sunday to catch the last bus to the quarterfinals.
Jason Perkins had 11 points and nine boards, while RR Garcia added 10 markers for the Fuel Masters, who failed to replicate their success against Magnolia in the 2020 Philippine Cup quarterfinals in the Clark bubble.
The Scores:
Magnolia 127 – Lee 25, Barroca 18, Harris 15, Jalalon 15, Abueva 12, Sangalang 11, Wong 11, Dela Rosa 10, Dionisio 5, Ahanmisi 3, Reavis 2, Corpuz 0, Brill 0, Escoto 0
Phoenix 88 – Maxwell 32, Perkins 11, Garcia 10, Wright 8, Jazul 7, Melecio 7, Robles 6, Pascual 4, Demusis 3, Porter 0, Manganti 0, Rios 0, Camacho 0.
Quarterscores: 34-20, 66-46, 102-67, 127-88.
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