PBA: 8th spot sa playoffs nasungkit na ng Magnolia vs. NLEX

Nakuha na ng Magnolia Timplados ang huli at pang-walong pwesto sa playoffs ng PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup.

Ito ay matapos tambakan ng Hotshots ang NLEX, 112-81, sa kanilang do-or-die game kagabi, Pebrero 2, sa Ynares Center sa Antipolo City. 

Naging dikit ang laban sa first half ng laro ngunit pagdating ng second half ay hinikayat ni Victolero ang kanyang koponan na panatilihin ang kanilang lakas at higpit ng depensa sa kalaban. 

“I told them at halftime: Let’s start to dominate them on defense. That was the message at halftime, and we were so tentative. I just told them to stick to our strength, our defense, and we wanted to give them a hard time on offense,” ani Victolero 

Dahil sa panalo ng Magnolia, sasabak na ang Hotshots ngayon quarter finals at haharapin ang No.1 seed na NorthPort Batang Pier, na may twice-to-beat advantage.

“We have three days to prepare. We are the underdogs, do-or-die situation again, but I like our chances. Hopefully, we can battle the No.1 team and give them a good fight,” dagdag ni Victolero.

Samantala, ikinatuwa naman ni Magnolia Hotshot coach Chito Victolero ang naging performance ng kanilang koponan lalo na ang import na si Ricardo Ratliffe na nagpakita ng sigasig sa laban kontra Road Warriors, kung saan nakapagtala ito ng 32 points, 14 rebounds at dalawang blocks.

"I told the players all the struggles, mistakes, injuries, frustrations of the past, it all boiled down to this game. The players embraced the challenge. Iyung kanilang grit, determination and perseverance lumabas lahat sa larong ito." pagtatapos ni Victolero. 

Bukod kay Ratliffe, nag-ambag din si Zavier Lucero ng 14 points at anim na rebounds, habang mayroong tig-13 points sina Rome Dela Rosa at Ian Sangalang.

The Scores:

MAGNOLIA 112 – Ratliffe 32, Lucero 14, Dela Rosa 13, Sangalang 13, Barroca 11, Abueva 8, Dionisio 8, Lastimosa 5, Lee 4, Balanza 4, Alfaro 0, Laput 0, Eriobu 0.

NLEX 81 – Bolick 27, Mocon 13, Alas 12, Watkins 10, Torres 10, Semerad 5, Nieto 2, Policarpio 2, Ramirez 0, Rodger 0, Herndon 0.

Quarter Scores: 21-21, 44-44, 80-67, 112-81.