Magnolia beats Rain or Shine to clinch Group B top seed

Sports

THE Magnolia Hotshost bucked the absence of their leading scorer to repulse the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 107-103, in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup on Wednesday night, Oct 21, at the Ynares Center-Antipolo.

Already assured of a quarterfinal seat, the Hotshots opted to rest Zav Lucero. Import KJ Buffen and Magnolia’s starters also played limited minutes but still got enough firepower to complete its comeback from an eight-point halftime deficit.

Javi Gomez de Liano scored 19 points anchored on 6-of-10 shooting from three-point area, Peter Alfaro III chipped in 17, Jeron Lastimosa added 16, and Yukien Andrada tossed in 11 as the Hotshots claimed the No. 1 seed in Group B after finishing the elimination round with a 7-3 (win-loss) record.

Rain or Shine dropped to 5-4, resulting in a two-way tie at second place in Group B with the Phoenix Fuel Masters.

Rain or Shine and Phoenix will fight the second place in the final elimination-round playdate on Friday, Oct. 24.

The remainig quarterfinal slot in Group B will be disputed by Barangay Ginebra (4-5), Meralco (4-6) and Blackwater (3-6).

The Kings have the inside track to secure the last quarterfinal berth owing to their superior quotient over the Bolts and the Bossing.

Quarterfinalists in Group A are NLEX, San Miguel Beer, Converge, and TNT.

THE SCORES:

MAGNOLIA (107) – Gomez de Liano 19, Alfaro 17, Lastimosa 16, Buffen 16, Andrada 11, Sangalang 7, Barroca 5, Koon 5, Taha 4, Dela Rosa 3, Jopia 2, Verano 2, Gomez 0, Laput 0.

RAIN OR SHINE (103) – Nocum 25, Fuller 18, Lemetti 11, Cuajao 9, Clarito 8, Malonzo 8, Caracut 8, Villegas 7, Santillan 4, David 3, Belga 2, Asistio 0.QUARTERSCORES: 32-26, 53-61, 86-81, 107-103.(CCM)