MANILA – Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots leaned on its endgame poise to eliminate Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters, 102-95, in the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals last night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
After seeing their first half lead turned to an 86-all score, Nicholas Rakocevic drilled four straight free throws followed by back-to-back inside hits by Calvin Abueva and a basket by Andy Mark Barroca. These gave the Hotshots a 96-87 edge.
Four more points by Abueva pushed Magnolia’s lead to 100-92. The Fuel Masters cut the deficit to 95-100 on a three-pointer by Tyler Tio but two free throws by Abueva sealed the semifinals seat for the Hotshots.
Abueva finished the game with 19 points, with 10 coming in the fourth quarter. The Hotshots enters the semis and will face the winner of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings-NorthPort Batang Pier series.
Rakocevic added 18 points, 13 rebounds, five blocks, four steals and two assists, while Barroca, Paul Lee and Adrian Wong had 16, 15 and 11 markers, respectively, for the Hotshots.
Tio led the seventh-placer Fuel Masters with 18 points, Encho Serrano and Kaleb Wesson had 16 markers apiece, while Javee Mocon and Jason Perkins ended with 12 markers each.
In the first game, Bay Area Dragons made its way to the semifinals round with a 126-96 rout of Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. They will up against the winner of San Miguel Beermen-Converge FiberXers series.
From a close contest early in the game, the Dragons created separation in the second frame behind Hayden Blankley and Andrew Nicholson for a 49-29 edge. The Painters cut it to 40-49 but baskets by Blankley and Glen Yang increased it back to 60-44.
The top-seed Dragons went for the kill against the Painters in the second half behind the trio of Blankley, Nicholson and Yang as the lead reached its largest at 34 points late in the third quarter.
Blankley led the way with 47 points, including 10 three-point conversions, to go with 10 rebounds, Nicholson chipped in 32 points while Yang fell short of triple-double with 13 points, 10 assists and six rebounds for the Dragons.
BOX SCORE:
MAGNOLIA 102 – Abueva 19, Rakocevic 18, Barroca 16, Lee 15, Wong 11, Jalalon 8, Sangalang 6, Dionisio 4, Dela Rosa 3, Corpuz 2, Ahanmisi 0.
PHOENIX 95 – Tio 18, Serrano 16, Wesson 16, Mocon 12, Perkins 12, Anthony 6, Manganti 5, Pascual 4, Rios 4, Lojera 2, Adamos 0.
Quarterscores: 28-26, 50-46, 76-74, 102-95./PN
