MANILA – Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots recovered from a slow start to score a 92-78 victory over Meralco Bolts in Game 2 of the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals last night at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
Paul Lee led the way with 28 points, including five three-point conversions, while Ian Sangalang and Calvin Abueva added 16 and 11 markers, respectively.
With the win, the Hotshots surged to a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Down by as much as 12 points at 20-32 midway in the second quarter, the Hotshots leaned on three outside conversions from Lee and inside baskets from Abueva to take a 38-36 halftime lead.
The game was still tight for both teams early in the third with the score tied at 44-all before Magnolia relied on the baskets by Justin Melton, Jiovani Jalalon and Jackson Corpuz to build a 64-58 upper-hand.
The Hotshots went on to stretch the advantage to 73-61 with inside conversions from Abueva but the Bolts answered with consecutive shots to trim the deficit to 67-75 before Magnolia widened it to 79-67 following another Lee basket.
The Bolts made its last push at 71-79 on four straight points from Nard John Pinto but consecutive scores from Sangalang, Andy Mark Barroca and Rafael Reavis stretched the lead to its largest at 88-75.
Chris Newsome finished with 18 points, seven assists and four rebounds while Pinto and Bacolodnon Reynel Hugnatan contributed 12 markers apiece for the Bolts.
In the first game, Marcio Lassiter scored on a game-winning putback as San Miguel Beermen escaped with a 98-96 win over TNT Tropang Giga in Game 2 to tie their best-of-seven semis series at 1-1.
With the score tied at 96-all, Lassiter was at the right place at the right time to score on inside misses by teammates June Mar Fajardo and Arwind Santos to complete their come-from-behind win.
Lassiter finished the match with seven points and eight rebounds, while Terrence Romeo led the Beermen with 26 points, 15 in the fourth quarter, while Fajardo had double-double 22 points and 10 rebounds./PN
BOX SCORE:
MAGNOLIA 92 – Lee 28, Sangalang 16, Abueva 11, Dela Rosa 8, Melton 6, Reavis 6, Barroca 4, Corpuz 4, Jalalon 4, Dionisio 3, Pascual 2.
MERALCO 78 – Newsome 18, Pinto 12, Hugnatan 12, Quinto 7, Belo 7, Maliksi 7, Almazan 6, Caram 4, Hodge 3, Jose 2, Pasaol 0, Baclao 0.
Quarterscores: 13-13, 38-36, 64-58, 92-78.
