Mike Harris struck with 26 points for the Magnolia Hotshots as they turned back the Meralco Bolts, 94-80, at the start of their the best-of-five semifinals series of the 46th Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Harris fired seven points for the Hotshots in the third period, as he and Jio Jalalon turned the table on the Bolts.
This allowed the Hotshots to take an eight-point, 64-56, spread when the quarter ended.
Calvin Abueva banged in eight of 12 points in the final canto as he joined hands with Harris and Lee in putting the Hotshots ahead by 10, 82-72, in the final 4:16.
The Bolts, who led at halftime, 43-35, got 16 game-high points from Chris Banchero.
Jalalon knocked in nine of his 15-point output in the third to help lift the Hotshots to an eight-point, 64-56 spread.
Harris also had 16 rebounds to go along with four assists and a steal.
Jalalon, meanwhile, led the locals with 15 markers, six boards, and six dimes while Paul Lee and Calvin Abueva added 13 and 12 points, respectively.
The Hotshots started out poorly and trailed by 17 points early in the second quarter but came alive in the third where they held a 64-56 lead going into the final canto.