MANILA, Philippines – Has Magnolia decoded San Miguel?
That question will be answered as the Hotshots shoot for a third straight win and a 3-2 lead in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals when they tangle with the Beermen in Game 5 at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, February 11.
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Second quarter
- SAN MIGUEL 28-20: Mark Barroca finishes inside
- SAN MIGUEL 28-18: Jericho Cruz still on fire as he knocks down his third triple of the game
First quarter
- END OF 1Q: San Miguel sets the tone with a 25-18 lead over Magnolia
- SAN MIGUEL 25-18: Jio Jalalon sinks two freebies
- SAN MIGUEL 25-16: Jericho Cruz hits again, this time from beyond the arc
- SAN MIGUEL 22-16: Jericho Cruz drains a long two
- SAN MIGUEL 20-16: Aris Dionisio and Don Trollano exchange long bombs
- SAN MIGUEL 17-13: Bennie Boatwright gets two free throws to go
- SAN MIGUEL 15-13: Tyler Bey lights it up from long distance
- SAN MIGUEL 15-10: Jericho Cruz enters the game and quickly swishes a triple
- SAN MIGUEL 12-10: Mark Barroca hits a wide-open teardrop
- SAN MIGUEL 12-8: June Mar Fajardo goes 1/2 from the line
- SAN MIGUEL 11-8: Tyler Bey side steps and scores
- SAN MIGUEL 11-6: Bennie Boatwright scores inside
- SAN MIGUEL 9-6: Jio Jalalon stops and pops from mid-range
- SAN MIGUEL 9-4: Tyler Bey splits his charities
- SAN MIGUEL 9-3: Back-to-back threes by surprise starter Simon Enciso
- 3-3: Jio Jalalon puts Magnolia on the board with a three
- SAN MIGUEL 3-0: CJ Perez with an easy layup
- SAN MIGUEL 1-0: June Mar Fajardo opens the scoring with a free throw
Starting lineups
- SAN MIGUEL: Simon Enciso, CJ Perez, Marcio Lassiter, Bennie Boatwright, June Mar Fajardo
- MAGNOLIA: Jio Jalalon, Mark Barroca, Rome Dela Rosa, Tyler Bey, Ian Sangalang
Preview
Beaten by 32 points combined in the first two games of the best-of-seven affair, Magnolia has flipped the script, tying the series at 2-2 after limiting San Miguel to under 90 points in each of their last two encounters.
Game 3 and Game 4 marked the only times the Beermen got contained to under 90 points after averaging 106.8 points in their previous 17 games – a run capped by 11 straight wins.
The way the Hotshots turned the series around has given head coach Chito Victolero something to be proud of, but he is far from satisfied.
“We just tied the series. Nothing to celebrate. Just need to prepare hard for the next game,” said Victolero.
“I like the effort. I like the aura of my team. We’re doing well right now, offensively and defensively. We’re still the underdogs for this series.”
Magnolia aims to share the wealth anew after five players scored in double figures in Game 4, with Tyler Bey dropping 26 points to show the way for locals Mark Barroca (14), Paul Lee (14), Ian Sangalang (13), and Jio Jalalon (10).
San Miguel, meanwhile, hopes that high-scoring import Bennie Boatwright will rediscover his touch after being held to a conference-low 16 points in Game 4.
Game time is 6:15 pm. – Rappler.com
