MANILA - Magnolia stayed alive in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals after tripping TNT, 105-97, in Game 5 of their series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Friday. Sent to the brink of elimination, the Hotshots played with much urgency against the Tropang Giga, sizzling offensively for 59 points in the first half, the most by any team to start a game in their best-of-seven series. TNT tried to crawl back into the game in the second half, but Magnolia quickly weathered the rallies and held on. Mark Barroca fired 25 points, which matched his playoff career-high, with six rebounds, four assists, and one assist for the Hotshots, forcing a Game 6 on Sunday night. Paul Lee, Ian Sangalang, and Calvin Abueva each added 16 points with Abueva also grabbing 10 rebounds for the double-double. Jayson Castro put up 18 points, six rebounds, five assists, and one steal off the bench for TNT in a game where Mikey Williams was held to just 13 points. (PNA) }
MANILA TNT showed its championship pedigree on Magnolia with a 108-96 win at the start of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Led by another explosive game from Mikey Williams, the Tropang Giga quickly deposed the Hotshots from start to finish to draw first blood in their best-of-seven series, although the PLDT franchise had to repulse a fourth-quarter threat from the Purefoods squad. Williams finished with 26 points, five rebounds, four assists, and one steal, while RR Pogoy added 23 points, three rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block. Calvin Abueva put up 18 points, eight rebounds, and one assist, while Jio Jalalon, Ian Sangalang, and Aris Dionisio each added 14 markers for Magnolia even as Dionisio also tallied 13 boards for the double-double. (PNA) }
MANILA - Magnolia Hotshots booked a place in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals with a 112-106 overtime win against NLEX Road Warriors in the deciding game of their best-of-three quarterfinal series on Sunday night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. Jio Jalalon took over in the extension as he was responsible for nine of the Hotshots' first 11 points, scoring seven on his own and assisting on a layup from Calvin Abueva to open a 108-100 lead with 1:15 remaining. Don Trollano tried to play hero for the Road Warriors as he hit back-to-back triples to cut the lead down to two, 108-106, with exactly a minute remaining, but he eventually fizzled in the end as free throws from Abueva and Mark Barroca sealed the deal for the Hotshots. Sangalang finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and two steals to lead Magnolia, which set a finals rematch with TNT in their best-of-seven semifinal affair beginning Wednesday. Lee, making his first start since returning from
MANILA - The Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards denied the All-Star Bacolod Ballers a giant slaying to begin their two-game home stand as the former prevailed, 81-74, in a Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League triple-overtime thriller that ended just past midnight on Tuesday at the University of St. La Salle Gym in Bacolod City. Despite a solid defensive performance, Bacolod failed to close out Nueva Ecija, and the latter got its offensive game in the overtime sessions to take the road win. Entering the game averaging a league best 94.3 points, Nueva Ecija, playing without suspended coach Jerson Cabiltes, was held to just 49 points with 31.1 seconds left in regulation as Bacolod was on track of scoring a huge upset to the delight of its sold-out crowd. However, Alwyn Alday clipped Byron Villarias while taking a three-pointer, and the latter made all his three free throws to force the first overtime session. In the first overtime, the Rice Vanguards appeared to be pulling away after answering E
MANILA - San Miguel Beermen weathered a mini late rally from Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters to reclaim the solo top spot in the PBA Philippine Cup standings after a 99-93 win on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. The Beermen showed their class for the most part of the tight contest even as they eventually opened an 11-point lead, 95-84, with 2:20 to play. The Elasto Painters, however, banked on six straight free throws to cut the lead down to five, 95-90, with 1:19 left. They even had a chance to trim it further after Andrei Caracut stole the ball from Simon Enciso, but Rey Nambatac was whistled for a dribbling violation, and the Beermen scored back-to-back layups to ice the game. CJ Perez led SMB, now at 5-1, with 21 points, four rebounds, five assists, and a steal, while Marcio Lassiter and Rodney Brondial added 16 points each. June Mar Fajardo chipped in a double-double of 10 points and 16 rebounds plus a career-high seven assists and three blocks. Jewel Po