By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

FINALLY broke through the win column in their best-of-seven PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series, the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok seek to repeat over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and level their series in Game Four today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Set for 7 p.m., the Hotshots, who thrust themselves back in the series with an 85-74 victory in Game Three on April 16, try to tie the series and reboot it to a best-of-three affair as the two teams jostle to book a spot in the finals of the season-opening Philippine Basketball Association tournament.

The win broke back-to-back losses for Magnolia, which had a hard time keeping in step with the Elasto Painters in the first two games of the series to go down 0-2.

In Game Three, big man Ian Sangalang stepped up for the Hotshots in the second half to give his team the boost it needed to finally get the better of Rain or Shine.

Mr. Sangalang went scoreless in the opening half but poured in all of his 16 points in the second fold, 10 coming in a key run in the fourth period where they created separation for the win.

The former San Sebastian College standout also peppered his performance in the win with 11 rebounds and two blocks.

Also stepping up for Magnolia was Paul Lee with 16 points and six boards while guards Jio Jalalon and Mark Barroca combined for 14 points, 20 rebounds and eight assists.

For Rain or Shine, it was rookie Javee Mocon who led the way with 18 points and nine rebounds with Beau Belga and Norbert Torres adding 12 and 10 points, respectively.

“We just got back to Magnolia basketball. Defensively we were there and many players stepped up,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero as he assessed their game after the match.

“This is just one win though. But good thing we have a break and the players can rest. We really need this break,” he added.

For Mr. Sangalang, he said he hopes the win could propel them all the way to the end.

Meanwhile, later yesterday the defending champions San Miguel Beermen were to go for a third straight win over the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters in their own best-of-seven semifinals.

Holding a 2-0 series lead, the Beermen were angling to bury the Fuel Masters deeper as they go for a fifth straight All-Filipino title.

Phoenix, for its part, seeks to get back in the series, its first semifinal appearance in the PBA.

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