PBA: Magnolia ousts Coke, faces Air21 in semis

MANILA, Philippines – The Magnolia Beverage Masters will just have one day of rest before facing top seed Air21 Express when their best-of-seven semi-final series in the Smart-PBA Fiesta Cup starts Sunday. This came after the Beverage Masters coasted to a 78-60 win over the Coca-Cola Tigers in their do-or-die game Friday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City. The Beverage Masters turned to import Amal McCaskill to get the last semis ticket as the Magnolia big man put in an impressive performance inside the paint finishing with 18 points, 19 rebounds and four assists. The Magnolia big man, who was held to five points in the first half, got plenty of support from Dondon Hontiveros, who added 14 points and nine rebounds. Hontiveros and Lordy Tugade alternated in puncturing the hoops in the final period hitting timely baskets to help the Masters enjoy a 70-54 spread with 3:54 left in the game clock. The loss put to waste rookie Ronjay Buenafe’s game-long brilliance as he ended up with 20 points shooting 13-out-of-15 at the free throw line. –GMANews.TV