BY REYNALD MAGALLON
Top seed Magnolia wasted no time in asserting its might in the playoffs.
The Hotshots went off to a strong start and put an even better finish to boot out the TNT Tropang Giga, 109-94, and punch the first ticket to the semifinals of the 2023-’24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the PhilSports Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 17.
Import Tyler Bey led the way with 41 points including a perfect 16-of-16 clip from the foul line as Magnolia unloaded a back-breaking 16-1 run bridging the last two frames that allowed them to establish enough cushion to fend off a late TNT fightback.
Bey, who poured 25 of his output in the second half, added 13 rebounds and five steals to his line while Mark Barroca provided ample support of 17 points.
Ian Sangalang had 12 points and eight rebounds while Abueva also had the same scoring output while putting a body on TNT import Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson on the defensive end.
The Hotshots actually banked on a strong first half that allowed them to take the driver seats at the break, 50-44. The Tropang Giga, however, behind the efforts of Hollis-Jefferson, RR Pogoy and Kim Aurin, briefly took the lead, 69-68.
Meantime, Bong Quinto provided the spark in the extra periods as Meralco outlasted Phoenix in a thrilling 116-107 triple overtime victory to force a sudden death in their quarterfinals series.
Quinto poured 14 of his 19 points in the first to third extensions as the Bolts displayed unwavering resolve and grit to come back from a 15-point deficit in the final frame and emerge victorious in the first triple overtime game since 2019 and only 14th in the league history.
The burly winger played a total of 44 minutes in the contest as he had to play extra minutes following what appeared to be an ankle sprain to Cliff Hodge in the first overtime. Hodge was actually playing well before exiting the contest, finishing with team-high 20 points that also went with 10 boards.
Quinto’s heroics, however, wouldn’t come for the Bolts if not for the booming triple from Chris Newsome at the final buzzer to send the game to the first overtime period.
Struggling in the first half, Newsome came alive in the second half and still finished with 16 points after presiding over a 10-3 finishing kick for the Meralco in regulation.
Import Shonn Miller added 18 points and 20 boards while Aaron Black also finished with the same scoring output that also came with eight rebounds and four steals. Allein Maliksi also wound up with 18 points.
