By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots showed steadiness in the endgame to pull off an 82-79 escape over the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters in Game 1 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday night, January 24.

With the score tied at 78-all with less than two minutes left, Tyler Bey surged the Hotshots to an 81-78 advantage with a completed three-point play from an inside pass by Paul Lee.

The Fuel Masters cut the deficit to 79-81 with a split free throw by Johnathan Williams III, but Hotshots’ Bey increased it back to 82-79 with his own split free throw.

Phoenix had a chance to force an overtime, but Jason Perkins missed his three-point attempt.

Bey top-scored for the Hotshots with a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds to go with two assists and a steal as they took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five semifinals’ series.

Lee added 11 markers, on a paltry 3-of-10 shooting from the field, while Andy Mark Barroca came off the bench with 10 points, four steals and two assists for the top-seed Hotshots.

Perkins top-scored for the Fuel Masters with 25 points. RJ Jazul added 13 markers, Williams struggled with 11 points to go with 18 rebounds, and Javee Mocon also ended with 11 markers in the loss.

Meanwhile, June Mar Fajardo drilled marginal free throws as the San Miguel Beermen escaped with a 92-90 win over the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings to also take a 1-0 edge in their own semis series.

With the score tied at 90-all, Fajardo drew a foul from Gin Kings center Christian Standhardinger with 31 seconds left, where he split his free throws to give the Beermen a 91-90 lead.

After a missed attempt by Standhardinger, the Gin Kings fouled Beermen’s Chris Ross, but he missed his two freebies.

Fajardo grabbed the rebound and drew a foul, where he once again split his free throws for a 92-90 count.

With nine seconds remaining in regulation, the Gin Kings still had a chance to win the game, but Earl Scottie Thompson and a miscommunication with Standhardinger led to a turnover as the final buzzer sounded.

Jaymar Perez top-scored with 26 points. Bennie Boatwright, Jr. added a double-double of 23 points and 12 rebounds, while Fajardo and Celedonio Trollano finished with 18 and 10, respectively, for Beermen./ASC, WDJ

MAGNOLIA 82 — Bey 23, Lee 11, Barroca 10, Abueva 9, Sangalang 8, Dionisio 8, Jalalon 7, Laput 6, Dela Rosa 0, Tratter 0, Mendoza 0.

PHOENIX 79 — Perkins 25, Jazul 13, Mocon 11, Williams 11, Tio 6, Tuffin 5, Garcia 3, Manganti 3, Lalata 2, Verano 0, Rivero 0, Soyud 0, Alejandro 0, Daves 0, Camacho 0.

Quarterscores: 18-16, 38-41, 61-60, 82-79.