MAGNOLIA suffered another heartbreaking loss on Saturday when it got booted out of the PBA Philippine Cup playoffs after squandering a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals against TNT.
The Hotshots lost to the Tropang 5G, 80-79, on two free throws by Kelly Williams with 2.7 seconds left in the game where the winner advances to the semifinals. Magnolia was put into the precarious situation after it bowed to TNT also by a point, 89-88, last Wednesday.
READ: Kelly Williams clutch for TNT as it keeps Grand Slam bid alive
It was a sorry defeat for Magnolia, which already held the No. 3 seed but still ended losing the series against TNT, seeking for a grand slam this season.
It is the fourth time that the Magnolia/B-Meg/Purefoods franchise have squandered a twice-to-beat advantage, a league record, according to PBA statistics chief Fidel Mangonon.
The previous one came during the 2011-12 Philippine Cup when top-seed B-Meg, then coached by Tim Cone, was ousted by Powerade in the quarterfinals on Gary David’s fiery shooting in the knockout game.
Purefoods also lost to Barangay Ginebra in the 2001 All-Filipino Conference despite holding a twice-to-beat advantage in its quarterfinal series as the No. 4 seed, according to Mangonon.
Purefoods was also eliminated early in the 1998 Commissioner’s Cup with the No. 4 seed losing to No. 5 Shell, also in the quarterfinals, Mangonon added.
This latest defeat hit differently for a team that has labelled by fans as ‘Introvoys’ over the past few years.
Magnolia looked headed for a victory after Ian Sangalang knocked down a short stab to give his team a 79-78 lead.
But the Hotshots squandered it on the next possession when Kelly Williams was fouled while taking a follow-up, with the TNT veteran calmly draining two free throws. The Hotshots committed a turnover in the last play to close another disappointing conference.
Magnolia strung up six straight wins to open the Philippine Cup and held first place for majority of the elimination round before fizzling out in the end.
The Hotshots lost three of their last five games but still finished with an 8-3 win-loss record in a tie for first place with San Miguel, NLEX, and Barangay Ginebra, and had the No. 3 seed through to the quotient system.
In a bid to strengthen its line-up, Magnolia also acquired William Navarro in a trade with NorthPort, parting ways with Calvin Abueva, Jerrick Balanza, and a future draft pick.
But since the trade, the Hotshots only won one game, ironically, against TNT at the end of the eliminations.
Magnolia coach Chito Victolero was no longer around for an interview when reporters attempted to caught up with him after the match.
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