By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots secured a seat in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals after booting out the TNT Tropang Giga in the quarterfinals, 109-94, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Wednesday night,
January 17.
Tyler Bey finished with a double-double of 41 points and 13 rebounds, to go with five steals, three blocks and two assists as the Hotshots became the first team to reach the semifinals round.
Andy Mark Barroca added 17 markers, Ian Sangalang had 12 points and eight rebounds, while Calvin Abueva contributed 12 points, with eight coming in the second quarter, for Magnolia.
The Hotshots needed to only win once to reach the semifinals round as they hold a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals round to finish the eliminations as the no. 1 seed team.
The Hotshots will battle the winner of the Meralco Bolts-Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters knockout quarterfinals game in the best-of-five semifinals round beginning next week.
Down by double-digits midway through the second quarter, the Hotshots relied on the exploits of Abueva, Barroca and Jiovani Jalalon as they turned things around to take a 50-44 halftime lead.
The Hotshots maintained a 62-56 lead early in the third quarter, but Tropang Giga responded with their own run to snatch the lead at 69-68 on back-to-back three pointers by Roger Pogoy.
The Hotshots quickly responded with a basket from Barroca, two free throws and a triple from Bey and an inside conversion from Sangalang to take a 77-69 lead entering the fourth quarter.
The Tropang Giga tried to keep the match close several times in the final quarter courtesy of rookie Kim Aurin, but the Hotshots had their answers from Bey and Barroca to widen the lead to 19 points.
Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson paced TNT with 27 points, nine rebounds and 11 assists. Calvin Oftana added 20 points, Pogoy rattled in five triples for 17, while Aurin contributed 13 points./ASC, WDJ
MAGNOLIA 109 — Bey 41, Barroca 17, Sangalang 12, Abueva 12, Jalalon 9, Lee 7, Dionisio 4, Laput 3, Dela Rosa 2, Ahanmisi 2, Corpuz 0, Tratter 0, Eriobu 0.
TNT 94 — Hollis-Jefferson 27, Oftana 20, Pogoy 17, Aurin 13, K. Williams 9, Heruela 4, Montalbo 2, Galinato 2, Khobuntin 0, Ganuelas-Rosser 0, Ponferrada 0.
Quarterscores: 21-23, 50-44, 77-69, 109-94.