By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots went to their defensive game as they prevailed over the San Miguel Beermen (SMB), 88-80, in Game 3 of the 2023-2024 PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday night, February 7.
Andy Mark Barroca led the way for the Hotshots with 20 points to go with six assists, four rebounds and two steals, while Paul Lee finally made his presence felt in the championship series with 12 markers.
Tyler Bey, Ian Sangalang and Aris Dionisio chipped in 11 markers apiece, while Jiovani Jalalon contributed 10 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals for the Hotshots.
The Hotshots went to work early as they jumped to a 16-11 lead after a three-pointer from Lee before they widened the lead to 24-15 on connections from Bey, Lee and Dionisio.
Magnolia went on to establish a 30-17 edge on back-to-back hits from Jalalon and Calvin Abueva, but the Beermen answered with conversions from Bennie Boatwright, Jr. and Jeron Teng to cut the deficit to 39-42 at the half.
The Hotshots opened the third quarter with connections from Rome dela Rosa and Jalalon to widen the lead to 50-42, but the Beermen kept themselves from within striking distance at 58-63.
The Beermen were still hanging around at 62-65 early in the final quarter until the Hotshots got back-to-back triples from Dionisio and another triple from Lee for their biggest lead of 80-64.
“The key factor is the two-day rest, mas naka-recover ‘yung body namin,” Hotshots head coach Chito Victolero said.
“We had a hard time doing our defensive schemes in Games 1 and 2 because napagod din ang mga players ko,” he said.
“But with the rest, mas nagawa namin ‘yung defensive mentality namin. ‘Yun naman ‘yun, every time they score 100 points, they have a bigger chance of winning. But if we limit them to less than 90, we have a bigger chance to win,” he added.
Boatwright finished with a double-double of 27 points and 10 rebounds. Jaymar Perez added 16 markers, while June Mar Fajardo and Teng contributed 11 and 10, respectively, for the Beermen./ASC, WDJ
MAGNOLIA 88 — Barroca 20, Lee 12, Sangalang 11, Bey 11, Dionisio 11, Jalalon 10, Dela Rosa 7, Abueva 6, Laput 0, Escoto 0, Reavis 0.
SAN MIGUEL 80 — Boatwright 27, Perez 16, Fajardo 11, Teng 10, Trollano 7, Lassiter 4, Ross 2, Brondial 3, Tautuaa 0.
Quarterscores: 24-15, 42-39, 63-58, 88-80.