The Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots gets to live another day in the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup.

The Hotshots, leaning on a huge second quarter, went on to outclass Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 129-100, to force a do-or-die Game 5 in their quarterfinal series on Tuesday, October 1, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

It was a tie ballgame after the opening salvo, 26-all, but Chito Victolero’s wards went firing in the next, outscoring the Elasto Painters, 36-18, for an 18-point, 62-44 separation entering the break.

Import Jabari Bird and local guard Paul Lee already had 15 and 10 at halftime, leading the Hotshots’ first-half rally en route to the Game 4 win.

Coach Yeng Guiao later on admitted to failing to stop their rivals’ offense as the Hotshots took “better shots.”

Magnolia saw its biggest lead at 33 points at the 129-96 mark late in the fourth before Shaun Ildefonso sank a four-point shot to mess with the final score.

For Victolero, the victory was all about getting another shot for a semis spot.

“[I’m] thankful to the players because of the mindset, because of the focus. And nandun sa board ko eh, sa start ng pre-game namin — it’s all about believing. In order for us to win the war, we need to grind for 53 minutes,” said Victolero during the postgame press conference.

“My players [were] so focused and they wanted to have another chance on Saturday,” he added.

When the dust settled, Bird had a total of 30 points, while Lee collected 25 points and six assists, with three other Magnolia players also contributing double-digit scoring.

Lee, known for his long-range bomb, had a 3-of-4 clip from the extended arc, while Jerrick Ahanmisi also had two from the same area.

Aaron Fuller, meanwhile, had 22 points for the losing side, while Jhonard Clarito added 15 markers.

Game 5 is on Saturday, October 5. (ABS-CBN News)