By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE streak back of the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok in their best-of-seven PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters continued on Wednesday as they took Game Five, 82-74, to gain the upper hand.
Lost the first two games of the series of their semifinal pairing, the Hotshots have won three straight since and are now on the verge of advancing to the finals of the season-opening Philippine Basketball Association tournament.
Mark Barroca and Jio Jalalon led Magnolia in the big win at the Cuneta Astrodome with 14 points apiece with Rafi Reavis also coming up big with nine points and 12 rebounds.
It was a low-scoring ball game as the two teams sputtered with their offense in different stretches of the match.
Magnolia though made a key run in late in the game that gave them a 78-71 lead with a minute and a half left.
Rain or Shine tried to rally back but it could only come to within four points, 78-74, with a minute to go in the game as it saw Magnolia go away with the victory.
Gabe Norwood had his best game of the series offensively for the Elasto Painters with 15 points but it was not enough to carry his team over the hump.
James Yap had 12 and Mark Borboran 11 for Rain or Shine, which will try to stave off elimination in Game Six on Friday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
