Harris takes over as Magnolia refuses to go home, extends series vs Meralco

Down 1-2 in the series, top seed Magnolia refused to end its season without a fight after toppling Meralco, 94-73, in Game 4 of their best-of-five semifinals affair in the PBA Governors Cup on Wednesday.

Import Mike Harris took care of business, finishing with a game-high 34 points to go along with 18 rebounds and a block as they stretched the series to a winner-take-all Game 5.

Paul Lee chipped in 17 markers and five assists, Jio Jalalon listed 10 points and seven dimes, and Calvin Abueva grabbed 11 points and eight boards.

After building a 42-30 halftime spread, Magnolia nearly squandered their lead after a 12-2 run highlighted by Tony Bishop's two triples helped Meralco to trim its deficit to just four, 46-42.

Then Harris came alive, notching 11 of Magnolia's last 16 third quarter points as they regained a double-digit upper hand, 62-52, before entering the fourth quarter.

Allein Maliksi, who was struggling all night long, gave Meralco some rays of hope after he fired back-to-back three-pointers that inched the gap to 67-73 with 5:33 left in the game.

Harris again brought the game to a 12-point spread, 79-67, before Lee completed a three-point play opportunity which sealed Game 4 for Magnolia.

The Hotshots are eyeing to return to the Governors' Cup finals stage for the first time since 2014.

The do-or-die Game 5 is slated on Friday, April 1, at 3 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Scores:

Magnolia 94 - Harris 34, Lee 17, Abueva 11, Jalalon 10, Corpuz 9, Barroca 5, Sangalang 4, Reavis 2, Brill 2, Wong 0, Dela Rosa 0.

Meralco 73 - Bishop 22, Newsome 11, Almazan 8, Banchero 7, Maliksi 7, Quinto 6, Caram 4, Black 3, Hodge 3, Baclao 2, Belo 0, Canete 0, Pasaol 0.

Quarters: 20-19, 42-30, 62-52, 94-73.

—MGP, GMA News