MANILA – Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots showed steadiness in the endgame to pull off an 82-79 escape over Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters in Game 1 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
With the score tied at 78-all with under two minutes left, Tyler Bey surged the Hotshots to an 81-78 advantage with a completed three-point play from an inside pass by Paul Lee.
The Fuel Masters cut the deficit to 79-81 with a split free throw by Johnathan Williams III, but Hotshots’ Bey increased it back to 82-79 with his own split free throw. Phoenix had a chance to force an overtime but Jason Perkins missed his three-point attempt.
Bey top-scored for the Hotshots with a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds to go with two assists and a steal as they took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five semifinals series.
Lee added 11 markers, on a paltry 3-of-10 shooting from the field, while Andy Mark Barroca came off the bench with 10 points, four steals and two assists for the top-seed Hotshots.
Holding to a slim 41-38 lead at the half, the Fuel Masters started the third quarter strong behind conversions from Perkins and Javee Mocon and a three-point play by Williams for a 53-44 lead.
The Hotshots, however, relied on baskets by Lee, Abueva and Bey and a three-pointer from Aris Dionisio to tie the score at 55-all before they took a slim 61-60 edge via free throws by Lee.
The Fuel Masters reclaimed the lead to start the final quarter after a basket by Mocon, but the Hotshots answered with connections from Abueva and Barroca for a 72-67 advantage.
A free throw and a triple by Perkins cut the deficit to 71-72, but the Hotshots elevated it anew to 78-73 on back-to-back hits by Barroca before Phoenix tied the score for the last time on a three-point play by Williams.
Perkins top-scored for the Fuel Masters with 25 points, RJ Jazul added 13 markers, Williams struggled with 11 points to go with 18 rebounds and Mocon also ended with 11 markers in the loss./PN
BOX SCORE:
MAGNOLIA 82 – Bey 23, Lee 11, Barroca 10, Abueva 9, Sangalang 8, Dionisio 8, Jalalon 7, Laput 6, Dela Rosa 0, Tratter 0, Mendoza 0.
PHOENIX 79 – Perkins 25, Jazul 13, Mocon 11, Williams 11, Tio 6, Tuffin 5, Garcia 3, Manganti 3, Lalata 2, Verano 0, Rivero 0, Soyud 0, Alejandro 0, Daves 0, Camacho 0.
QUARTERS: 18-16, 38-41, 61-60, 82-79.
