MAGNOLIA punched the last ticket to the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals by whipping NLEX, 112-81, in a knockout game on Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Ricardo Ratliffe outplayed Best Import statistical leader Mike Watkins, finishing with 32 points, 14 rebounds, and two blocks as the Hotshots won their fourth straight game to clinch the No. 8 spot in the quarterfinals.
Magnolia arranged a quarterfinal showdown with No. 1 NorthPort, but will need to win twice to advance in another do-or-die situation.
“Credit to the players especially Ricardo. I told them at halftime to start dominating them on defense,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero, whose team outscored NLEX, 68-37, in the second half while limiting the Road Warriors to 14 in the final period.
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As of late, Magnolia has been thriving in games with its conference on the line, and Sunday was no exception. The Hotshots went on critical 11-0 blast that turned a 50-50 tie into a blowout to keep their conference going.
Magnolia also limited Watkins to only 10 points on 3 of 13 shooting from the field after he fired 41 points against Eastern just last Wednesday.
“We were so tentative in the first half in the decision-making. We had a lot of turnovers. But I told them to stick to our strength which is defense,” said Victolero.
Ratliffe hit back-to-back baskets in a 9-0 run late in the third quarter to pad the Hotshots' lead to 79-64.
Zavier Lucero had 14 points and six rebounds, while Rome Dela Rosa and Ian Sangalang had 13 points each for the Hotshots, who bounced back in the second half after a flat start that saw them trail by 11 points, 15-4.
Robert Bolick had 27 points and six assists, while Javee Mocon had 13 points for the Road Warriors, whose three-game winning run was snapped with the conference-ending defeat.
The scores:
Magnolia 112 – Ratliffe 32, Lucero 14, Sangalang 13, Dela Rosa 13, Barroca 11, Dionisio 8, Abueva 8, Lastimosa 5, Balanza 4, Lee 4, Alfaro 0, Laput 0, Eriobu 0.
NLEX 81 – Bolick 27, Mocon 13, Alas 12, Watkins 10, Torres 10, Semerad 5, Policarpio 2, Nieto 2, Ramirez 0, Rodger 0, Herndon 0.
Quarters: 21-21; 44-44; 80-67; 112-81.
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