Magnolia Hotshots focus on commanding 3-1 series lead
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
CURRENTLY in the driver’s seat of their best-of-seven PBA Philippine Cup finals series at 2-1, the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok look to create further separation with the San Miguel Beermen in Game Four today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Seized the series lead following their 86-82 win in Game Three on May 5, the Hotshots go for the victory in game number four that pushes them on the brink of the title in the season-opening Philippine Basketball Association tournament.
In taking Game Three, Magnolia proved to be the steadier team all game long with the team continuously frustrating San Miguel even when the latter made a spirited run late in the game to book the victory.
Mark Barroca paced Magnolia with 22 points.
Ian Sangalang and Rafi Reavis each had a double-double. Mr. Sangalang finished with 17 points and 15 rebounds while Mr. Reavis had 16 markers and 15 boards.
Arwind Santos, meanwhile, led the Beermen with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
June Mar Fajardo struggled for 17 points with Terrence Romeo adding 15.
Magnolia had control of the game for much of the time until the Beermen came within three points, 82-79, with 17 seconds left after an Alex Cabagnot triple.
But Mr. Barroca gave Magnolia more breathing space, 86-79, with four straight free throws after.
Marcio Lassiter hit a three-pointer to narrow the Hotshots’ lead, 86-82, with four seconds remaining but the Beermen would not go any closer than that as Magnolia closed things out.
“It’s about character. We played with a lot of effort and a lot of heart,” said Mr. Reavis, named player of the game, in describing what did it for them in the last game.
It is something they hope to take cue from in today’s game as they make their push for their first All-Filipino title in five years.
“Hopefully we can do what we did tonight. For as long as we stay in what we do and play who we are as a team, as long as we stick with our roots, we’ll be fine,” said Mr. Reavis.
For San Miguel, the mission order is to make the adjustments and find a way to dictate the pace, something it was not able to do in Game Three.
“We have little time to adjust but let see what happens,” said Beermen coach Leo Austria.
Game Four of the PBA Philippine Cup finals is set for 7 p.m.
Prior to the game the best player of the conference award will be handed out.
Vying for the BPC plum is multiple-time winner Fajardo, Northport’s Sean Anthony and Stanley Pringle, Phoenix Pulse’s Calvin Abueva and TNT’s Roger Pogoy.
