Magnolia served another lesson on experience to Phoenix Super LPG by way of an 82-78 victory to seize the 2-0 lead in their PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup semifinal series, Friday night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
The Hotshots faced a 76-71 deficit with 4:13 left to play until Jio Jalalon sparked a 10-0 run through a floater to wipe it out and take control of the game the rest of the way, eventually moving a win away from the championship round.
“We were outhustled, outworked in the first 44 minutes,” offered head coach Chito Victolero, who’s nearing his fifth Finals trip. “We just matched their energy and aggressiveness and effort in the last four minutes.”
Key in that run, too, was James Laput with his crucial three-point play to tie the game at 76-all with 2:10 left, as well as Tyler Bey and Paul Lee, who nailed a long triple near the logo as the shot clock expired to cap off their scoring spree.
That long shot — for his sixth point of the game — basically sealed it as their youth-laden opposition could no longer impose any more threat.
“I have known Paul for eight years now, and I know he can hit any shot,” said Victolero. “Saka ini-ensayo ni Paul iyan, every day sa gym.”
Bey bannered Magnolia with 25 points and 12 rebounds, while Jalalon finished with 17 points, six boards, and three assists in the victory.
The Hotshots will go for the jugular in Game 3 on Sunday, 3 p.m. in the same venue, looking to book their first Finals appearance since the 2021 Philippine Cup bubble in Bacolor where they bowed to TNT, 4-1.
Johnathan Williams, on the other hand, had 27 points, 16 rebounds, and five assists for Phoenix in the loss that has put their campaign in danger.
The former NBA cager once again failed to capitalize on a chance to extend their three-point lead after missing his free throws with 2:32 left in the fourth, and that proved costly for them as Laput tied the game up shortly after.
He still tried to will his crew late following a layup off a drive to cut the gap to three, 81-78, but Mark Barroca sealed the deal through a split from the line.
Jason Perkins had 17 points and 13 rebounds with four assists while Ken Tuffin supplied 10 points and four boards for the Fuel Masters.
The Scores:
Magnolia 82 – Bey 25, Jalalon 17, Dela Rosa 9, Abueva 8, Barroca 8, Laput 7, Lee 6, Reavis 2, Sangalang 0, Dionisio 0, Mendoza 0.
Phoenix Super LPG 78 – Williams 27, Perkins 17, Tuffin 10, Mocon 7, Jazul 6, Tio 5, Soyud 3, Rivero 2, Manganti 1, Lalata 0, Garcia 0, Alejandro 0, Daves 0, Verano 0, Camacho 0.
Quarterscores: 30-14, 43-34, 62-60, 82-78.
