Magnolia handed Barangay Ginebra a huge 106-77, 29-point mauling to force a sudden-death match in their Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup quarterfinal series at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum on Monday night.
Their backs against the wall, the Hotshots began the game with a single mission—win at all cost. That they did as they began the game with an 11-point explosion that set the tone of the rout as they leveled their best-of-three series at 1-all.
“We only tied the series. Na-challenge ang mga players. Pinag-usapan namin ‘yung spirit namin at passion namin nu’ng Game One, it’s not the Magnolia Hotshots basketball. Nakita naman nila sa film,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero of the Hotshots’ stinging 75-86 setback at the start of their quarterfinal showdown on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Magnolia’s win set up a no-tomorrow game for a place in the semifinals on Wednesday, also at the Araneta Coliseum.
The winner will advance to the best-of-7 semifinal series with Rain or Shine.
Ian Sangalang led Magnolia with 21 points and nine rebounds, while Robbie Herndon added 18 points for the Hotshots, who drew double-digit scoring from six players.
After struggling in Game 1 of the series, Mark Barroca, Jio Jalalon, and Paul Lee finally found their form and combined for 38 points.
The Elasto Painters advanced to the semis right away by beating North Port last Sunday, 91-85. The Painters finished in the top 2 after the 11-game elimination, hence they needed to win only once over the seventh-ranked Batang Pier.
Phoenix Pulse likewise advanced to the next round via a 91-76 rout of Alaska also last Sunday. The Fuel Masters topped the elimination and thus enjoyed a win-once advantage over the eight-ranked Aces, who made the playoff round via playoff.
The Hotshots struck hard in the third period where they built lead a big 78-48 lead behind a scoring binge spanning over eight minutes.
Seeing the Hotshots’ offensive was going unrelenting, Ginebra sued for time with 2:51 left in the third, and somehow the Gin Kings were able to check their alarming offensive as Prince Caperal made back-to-back baskets and Art Dela Cruz a jumper in a 6-0 roll that trimmed Magnolia’s lead to 78-54 at the end of the third.
By the time the game reached its last 6 minutes, the Hotshots were already enjoying insurmountable lead at 91-63.
Only Sol Mercado managed to log in double-digit output for the Gin Kings with 13 points, with most of the team’s usual scorers failing to make their presence felt.
The scores:
Magnolia 106—Sangalang 21, Herndon 18, Jalalon 17, Barroca 13, Lee 13, Dela Rosa 11, Ramos 6, Abundo 3, Reavis 2, Brondial 2, Gamalinda 0, Melton 0, Pascual 0.
Ginebra 77—Mercado 13, Thompson 8, Ferrer 8, Dela Cruz 7, Caperal 6, Teodoro 6, Tenorio 5, Aguilar J. 5, Slaughter 5, Chan 4, Devance 4, Mariano 2.
Quarters: 25-18, 51-38, 81-54, 106-77.