PBA: Magnolia routs Meralco to clinch No. 5 seed for playoffs

Magnolia squandered a huge lead but pulled away late to take a 93-76 win over Meralco to close out its PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup elimination round run on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Hotshots clinched the No. 5 seed in the quarterfinals with a 7-5 card, while the Bolts dropped to 8-4 but will still enjoy a twice-to-beat bonus come the playoffs.

The final quarterfinal pairings will be determined after the game between Barangay Ginebra and TNT later tonight.

“Actually, the past three games, we’re in a playoff mentality already. I challenged the players, I challenged my team na this kind of games , ito ‘yung magbibiga sa amin ng chance going into the next level,” Magnolia head coach LA Tenorio said.

“We have a goal as a team. I think we are on the right track.”

Magnolia, still on a high from back-to-back wins against Titan and TNT, turned a slim 20-15 lead into a huge 36-15 cushion after Paul Lee hit a four-pointer and a triple to fuel a pivotal 16-0 run.

The Bolts, however, managed to trim the deficit to just eight, 61-69, after a wild third quarter turnaround despite the ejection of Cliff Hodge, who was slapped with a flagrant foul penalty two after a hit on Mark Barroca at the 6:51 mark of the third period.

Magnolia, though, stopped the bleeding in the fourth with Peter Alfaro coming up big. The former San Beda star issued a pass that led to a Yukirn Andrada basket before sinking a pair of charities for a 78-67 lead.

Javi Gomez de Liaño issued the dagger three-pointer as the Hotshots cruised to their third win in a row.

Clint Chapman led the way with 19 points, seven rebounds, and three assists while Lee and Gomez de Liaño chipped in 13 and 10 markers apiece. Ian Sangalang added nine while backcourt weapons Jerom Lastimosa and Barroca chimed in with eight markes each.

Marvin Jones and Javee Mocon paced the Bolts with 14 points each.

Scores:

Magnolia 93 – Chapman 19, Lee 13, Gomez de Liano 10, Sangalang 9, Lastimosa 8, Lucero 8, Barroca 8, Andrada 6, Verano 6, Dela Rosa 3, Alfaro 2, Gomez 1, Laput 0, Taha 0.

Meralco 76 – Jones 14, Mocon 14, Cansino 10, Hodge 10, Brickman 9, Quinto 8, Newsome 7, Black 2, Magbuhos 1, Bates 1, Banchero 0, Pascual 0.

Quarters: 18-14, 46-30, 74-65, 93-76.

—JKC, GMA News