MAGNOLIA Chicken Timplados finally put away Phoenix Super LPG, 89-79, on Wednesday in Game Four at the Mall of Asia Arena to advance to the finals of the PBA 48th Season Commissioner's Cup.
The Hotshots were tested yet again by the gritty Fuel Masters after squandering an early 17-point lead, but a 17-2 finish to the third quarter enabled them to build the biggest gap of the contest at 21 points.
Magnolia weathered another Phoenix rally in the fourth quarter to end the best-of-five semifinal series in four games and arrange a finals showdown with sister team San Miguel Beer.
Game One of the best-of-seven championship series will be played on Friday, also at the MOA Arena.
“We stayed composed and at the same time, we went to our strength which is our defense,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero.
“We talked about it at halftime that we expect a run from them (Phoenix). But we just stayed calm, weathered the storm, and kailangan lang namin maging composed. We learned a lot from the last game.”
Mark Barroca produced 21 points in his best game of the semifinals, helping Magnolia open with a 10-0 run and end with its first finals appearance since the Bacolor Bubble during the pandemic.
Tyler Bey had 20 points and 20 rebounds for Magnolia including a three-point play to start that third-quarter run that saw the Hotshots turn a 53-51 advantage into a 70-53 spread entering the fourth quarter.
Magnolia scored back-to-back baskets to begin the fourth to pad the lead to 74-53, the biggest of the contest.
Bey also scored a two-handed slam at the 4:22-mark of the fourth after Phoenix once again cut the deficit to 10 points.
Johnathan Williams finished with 17 points and 17 rebounds, while RR Garcia added 15 points for the Fuel Masters.
The scores:
Magnolia 89 – Barroca 21, Bey 20, Sangalang 12, Dionisio 8, Dela Rosa 7, Lee 6, Tratter 6, Jalalon 5, Laput 4, Ahanmisi 0, Reavis 0, Abueva 0.
Phoenix 79 – Williams 17, Garcia 15, Jazul 11, Manganti 10, Perkins 6, Alejandro 5, Tio 5, Muyang 4, Tuffin 3, Rivero 3, Soyud 0, Mocon 0, Verano 0, Camacho 0.
Quarters: 29-16; 49-38; 70-53; 89-79.
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