MANILA – Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots moved closer to the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup finals by posting an 81-69 win over the Meralco Bolts in Game 4 of the semifinals last night at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
Calvin Abueva tallied double-double 17 points and 12 rebounds. Ian Sangalang added double-double 17 points and 10 boards.
The Hotshots took a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Andy Mark Barroca ended up with 17 points and six assists while Jiovani Jalalon added 10 markers for Magnolia, which can wrap up the semifinals series on Wednesday.
Holding to a 23-18 lead after the first 12 minutes, the Hotshots broke away in the second period on conversions from Jalalon, Sangalang and Jerrick Ahanmisi for a 46-35 halftime lead.
Magnolia went on with its rampage in the third period on inside attacks by Abueva and Sangalang as the lead reached its largest at 71-50 on free throws by Paul Lee early in the fourth quarter.
Meralco responded with a huge run behind Bacolodnon Reynel Hugnatan to trim the deficit to 69-74 but a three-pointer by Barroca and free throws by Rafael Reavis and Sangalang to seal the win.
Hugnatan finished the game with 21 points, including three triples, to go with nine rebounds, while Clifford Hodge and Chris Newsome contributed 13 and 11 markers, respectively, for the Bolts.
In the first game, San Miguel Beermen imposed its presence from start to finish to defeat TNT Tropang Giga, 116-90, in Game 4 and tie their best-of-seven semifinals series at 2-2.
The Beermen jumped to an 18-9 start with consecutive inside hits by June Mar Fajardo and Moala Tautuaa. It went up to 57-32 at the half with Tautuaa and Terrence Romeo connecting in the second quarter.
San Miguel Beer went for the kill in the second half with conversions from Fajardo, Arwind Santos and Jaymar Perez as the lead reached its largest at 81-44 following a Marcio Lassiter three-pointer.
Tautuaa finished the match with conference-best 25 points to go with nine rebounds, Romeo added 16 markers, while Fajardo and Lassiter ended up with 13 each for the Beermen.
BOX SCORE:
MAGNOLIA 81 – Abueva 17, Sangalang 17, Barroca 17, Jalalon 10, Lee 9, Ahanmisi 5, Dionisio 4, Corpuz 1, Reavis 1, Dela Rosa 0.
MERALCO 69 – Hugnatan 21, Hodge 13, Newsome 11, Quinto 7, Pinto 6, Belo 3, Pasaol 3, Baclao 3, Maliksi 2, Caram 0.
Quarterscores: 23-18, 46-35, 68-50, 81-69. /PN
