By REYNALD MAGALLON
Magnolia showed no mercy and eliminated a shorthanded Rain or Shine side with a 31-point drubbing, 118-87, in the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup on Wednesday, July 20 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Hotshots rode a blistering first half where they built a 24-point lead to pick up their seventh win in 10 games and secure a best-of-three spot in the quarterfinals.
In a show of power, seven Magnolia players finished in double figures led by Jio Jalalon who orchestrated the attack for the Hotshots to post his second career triple-double of 16 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds.
Jerrick Ahanmisi unloaded 19 points built on four rainbow connections while Calvin Abueva scattered 13 points and seven boards. Ian Sangalang and Mark Barroca chipped in 12 apiece while Jackson Corpuz and Paul Lee were the other Hotshots in twin digits with 11 each.
With Rain or Shine’s loss, the playoff protagonists have already been completed although the complete quarterfinals pairing will not be determined up until the final eliminations game on Friday.
Leonard Santillan paced the Elasto Painters with 17 points and eight rebounds but were not enough to carry Rain or Shine to a victory which could have forced a playoff for the eighth spot of the standings. It also didn’t help that ROS was without veteran players Gabe Norwood, Jewel Ponferrada and Rey Nambatac due to health and safety protocols.
The absence was immediately felt as early as the first half when Magnolia embarked on an 11-0 run to erect a huge 20-point lead, 42-22, early in the second frame.
Meantime, rookie Justin Arana showed maturity as he delivered the biggest plays down the stretch as Converge eked out a 92-90 victory over skidding Blackwater in the first game.
The 23-year-old center showed nerves of steel on both ends of the floor, first scoring on a short stab to tie the game at 90-all before blocking Jvee Casio’s layup attempt on the other end with 20 seconds left.
Arana then showed patience in the next possession, making a hook shot in traffic to put the FiberXers ahead, 92-90, with 10 seconds remaining.
Blackwater had the chance to send the game to an extra period but Barkley Ebona botched an open layup off a nice feed from Casio at the buzzer.
With the win, the FiberXers are now assured of at least a playoff for the eighth seed after wrapping up the eliminations with a 5-6 record. Their victory also eliminated Phoenix and NorthPort, which are both sporting 3-7 records at the 10th and 11th spots of the standings.
Arana dropped nine of his 13 points in the final frame which also went with five rebounds. Maverick Ahanmisi also displayed an all-game brilliance with 18 points and seven assists while Abu Tratter finished with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The scores:
First Game
Converge 92 – Ahanmisi 18, Arana 13, Tratter 10, Stockton 9, Bulanadi 8, Ilagan 8, DiGregorio 7, Hill 6, Tolomia 4, Murrell 4, Adamos 2, Racal 2, Ambohot 1, Browne 0.
Blackwater 90 – Ganuelas-Rosser 20, Casio 16, Amer 14, Suerte 12, Sena 9, Ebona 6, Taha 4, Melton 4, McCarthy 3, Publico 2, Ayonayon 0, Escoto 0. Dyke 0. Quarters: 28-23, 46-47, 63-70, 92-90.
Second Game
Magnolia 118 – Ahanmisi 19, Jalalon 16, Abueva 13, Sangalang 12, Barroca 12, Corpuz 11, Lee 11, Dionisio 8, Escoto 5, Wong 4, Brill 3, Dela Rosa 2, Zaldivar 2, Laput 0, Reavis 0.
Rain or Shine 87 – Santillan 17, Caracut 12, Asistio 12, Nieto 9, Torres 9, Mamuyac 8, Belga 7, Demusis 5, Ildefonso 5, Guinto 3, Tolentino 0, Clarito 0.
Quarters: 31-21, 61-38, 87-64, 118-87.
