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    Abueva's late baskets help Magnolia put away tenacious Phoenix

    Hotshots on track for 'Clasico' semifinal vs Ginebra
    Dec 9, 2022
    Cavin Abueva Magnolia vs Phoenix
    PHOTO: Jerome Ascano

    CALVIN Abueva buried timely baskets late to lift Magnolia Chicken Timplados to a 102-95 win over Phoenix Super LPG on Friday at the Philsports Arena and a place in the semifinals of the 2022-23 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

    Abueva scored 10 of his 19 points in the final four minutes of the game to send the Hotshots to a semifinal series against the winner of the other playoff between Barangay Ginebra and NorthPort which the Kings lead, 1-0.

    [READ: Hard-luck Victolero misses Phoenix game]

    Nick Rakocevic hit four free throws to spark the second-seeded and twice-to-beat Hotshots' breakaway from an 86-86 deadlock in a fiercely fought game that saw both sides being called for technical fouls due to flopping.

    Abueva took over from there.

    'The Beast' hit back-to-back baskets inside to bring the lead to 94-86, and Mark Barroca nailed a running shot for a 96-87 advantage, the largest of the game.

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      That was enough for the Hotshots to secure passage to the semifinals in the absence of head coach Chito Victolero, who after recovering from a torn Achilles was placed under the league's health protocols.

      Phoenix, seeded sevevth, also missed RJ Jazul and RR Garcia due to safety protocols but made life difficult for the Hotshots to the very end.

      “They didn’t looked undermanned,” said Magnolia assistant coach Jason Webb. “They gave us a lot of match-up problems because they played big. We weren’t actually ready for that. It took until the fourth quarter before we figured it out.”

      Encho Serrano

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      Rakocevic had 18 points and 13 rebounds despite leaving the game momentarily due to an ankle sprain. Barroca tallied 16 points and Paul Lee added 15 points behind a 4-of-6 clip from threes.

      Tyler Tio finished with 18 points, while Encho Serrano and Kaleb Wesson had 16 points apiece but Phoenix was ousted after finishing with a 6-6 win-loss record at the end of the eliminations.

      The scores:

      Magnolia 102 – Abueva 19, Rakocevic 18, Barroca 16, Lee 15, Wong 11, Jalalon 8, Sangalang 6, Dionisio 4, Dela Rosa 3, Corpuz 2, Ahanmisi 0.

      Phoenix Super LPG 95 – Tio 18, Serrano 16, Wesson 16, Perkins 12, Mocon 12, Anthony 6, Manganti 5, Rios 4, Pascual 4, Lojera 2, Adamos 0.

      Quarters: 28-26; 50-46; 76-74; 102-95.

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      PHOTO: Jerome Ascano
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