MANILA – Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots stayed alive in the 2021-2022 PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals via a 94-73 rout of the Meralco Bolts in Game 4 last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Michael Harris tallied double-double 34 points and 18 rebounds. Paul Lee added 17 markers, with seven in the fourth period, as the Hotshots tied the best-of-five series at 2-2.
Calvin Abueva contributed 11 points and eight rebounds as Jiovani Jalalon chipped in 10 markers and seven assists for Magnolia, which forced a do-or-die Game 5 on Friday.
After being down 0-11, the Hotshots turned things around behind conversions from Harris, Lee and Jalalon in the second quarter as they surged to a 42-30 advantage at the half.
The Hotshots maintained the double-digit edge in the second half and even widened it to its largest at 22 points on six straight points from Lee late in the fourth.
Tony Bishop led the way with double-double 22 points and 17 rebounds, while Chris Newsome chipped in 11 markers for the Bolts.
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, meanwhile, made a return trip to the finals after a 112-93 beating of NLEX Road Warriors in Game 4 of their best-of-three semifinals series.
Justin Brownlee and Bacolodnon Jeffrei Chan anchored a huge first half assault for the defending champions Kings as they turned an early deficit to a 53-50 halftime lead.
The Kings pulled away in the second half with Brownlee continuing his attacks while also getting help from LA Tenorio, Nard John Pinto and Christian Standhardinger as the lead reached its biggest at 19.
Brownlee finished the match with 47 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, Chan added 20 markers, while Tenorio, Pinto and Standhardinger contributed 14, 12 and 10 markers, respectively, for the Kings.
BOX SCORE:
MAGNOLIA 94 – Harris 34, Lee 17, Abueva 11, Jalalon 10, Corpuz 9, Barroca 5, Sangalang 4, Reavis 2, Brill 2, Wong 0, Dela Rosa 0.
MERALCO 73 – Bishop 22, Newsome 11, Almazan 8, Maliksi 7, Banchero 7, Quinto 6, Caram 4, Hodge 3, Black 3, Baclao 2, Canete 0, Belo 0, Pasaol 0.
Quarterscores: 20-19, 42-30, 62-52, 94-73./PN
