By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok took a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in their best-of-five Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup semifinals after taking Game Two, 101-97, on Monday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Already up in the series entering the game, the Hotshots doubled up on the defending champions with tremendous will to make things happen, especially late in the game, to move one step closer to returning to the finals.
Import Romeo Travis had solid all-around numbers of 25 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and three steals for Magnolia while Ian Sangalang had 17 points.
Paul Lee finished with 14 points and Rome Dela Rosa had 11.
For Barangay Ginebra it was Justin Brownlee who led with 31 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.
LA Tenorio had 15 points while Greg Slaughter had 14 points and eight boards.
The contest got off to a competitive start with the two teams not allowing each other much headway.
Magnolia held a 21-18 lead after the first quarter and had a single-point lead, 47-46, at the halfway point.
In the third period, the Hotshots would get some momentum going as Messrs. Travis and Dela Rosa found their mark and helped their team to a 75-68 advantage heading into the fourth period.
Magnolia kept Barangay Ginebra at bay to begin the final quarter before Messrs. Brownlee and Tenorio led a ferocious fightback by the Kings.
Down by eight points, 99-91, with 1:26 to go in the game, the Kings managed to narrow the gap to just two points, 99-97, after Mr. Tenorio hit a triple with 24 ticks remaining.
A split charity by Mr. Lee still opened the window for Barangay Ginebra, 100-97, with 18 seconds remaining but it could not capitalize on it as three-point attempts by Messrs. Tenorio and Brownlee failed to connect, allowing the Hotshots to hold on for the victory.
“We just showed will to win. The players responded to the challenge. But it’s not over because Ginebra is a strong team and they are capable of coming back,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero.
The Hotshots have a chance to close out the series on Wednesday in Game Three at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
