MANILA, Philippines – Phoenix Fuel Masters had the chance to tie the series but the Magnolia Hotshots capitalized on the young team’s inexperience both in the playoffs and endgame to snatch an 82-78 win and comforting 2-0 best-of-five series lead on Friday, January 28, 2024 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
With barely a minute passed by since the opening tipoff, Phoenix’s Coach, Jamike Jarin, had no choice but to burn an unnecessary timeout to cool down the hot shooting Hotshots due to a 7-0 blitz. Coach Jarin’s powwow eventually paid off as his squad finally put themselves on the scoreboard right after.
Phoenix tried to fight back, but Magnolia seemed too strong for the young squad as the latter expanded its lead to a double-digit midway through the opener.
Calvin Abueva came off the bench to provide additional muscle for the Hotshots but fell on the floor after absorbing an inadvertent elbow from Jonathan Williams at the fifth-minute mark of the first.
Despite Abueva’s misfortune, Magnolia remained in control and total domination over Phoenix with a 30-14 commanding lead heading to the 2nd quarter.
Both teams slowed down offensively in the second. Noticeably, Fuel Masters’ super local scorer, Jason Perkins, hadn’t scored a point in the game which was a piece of bad news. On the other hand, Magnolia got a lucky break at Abueva’s re-entry despite a suspected fractured nose.
Quietly, Phoenix, led by Kenneth Tuffin and Tyler Tio got back on track and slowly carved its rival’s advantage. Halfway through the second, the lead downsized to a single-digit.
Aside from Fuel Masters’ hustle plays in the second period, Tyler Bey opened up the opportunity for Phoenix to catch up as the prolific import got into early foul trouble. At the end of the half, Phoenix found itself just down by 9, 43-34.
Prior to the main bout, San Miguel Beermen made it two in a row and put Brgy. Ginebra Gin Kings on the brink of elimination with a 106-96 and 2-0 series win.
Best Import of the Conference, Bennie Boatwright dropped 38 markers supported by June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez who both contributed 17 significant points.
Come the third quarter, Fuel Masters continued to surge as Perkins had finally awakened from a long hibernation.
Sensing that the semis-newcomers were closely inching, Paul Lee made it rain from the downtown to prevent Coach Jarin’s boys from overtaking and building their momentum.
Phoenix totally surprised everyone in the 3rd quarter as the underdogs made an 18-10 scoring run and trailed Magnolia by just 1 with 3 minutes left in the period.
A couple of minutes more and Phoenix tied the game for the first time. But not for long, as Jio Jalalon beat the buzzer with a well-guarded layup to regain the lead 62-60.
Just like their intensity in the previous chapter, the Fuelmasters sustained it and snatched the lead that petrified the Hotshots. This time, it was Coach Chito Victolero’s turn to call a ceasefire to talk things over.
Williams, who was also timid in the first half, had been instrumental in Phoenix’s offensive onslaught in this quarter. The reliable reinforcement jotted down 25 points with 5 more minutes to go in the game.
Magnolia, with its vast playoff experience, just needed a couple of good stops to recapture the lead and sent the entire Phoenix team into panic mode in the last 2 minutes of the ballgame.
Inexperience and crucial turnovers hit the Fuel Masters in the end game sending them to a 0-2 series deficit and officially surrendered to the Hotshots, 82-78 as the final horn sounded.
Both San Miguel Beermen and Magnolia Hotshots have the chance to wrap up the semifinals on Sunday, January 28, while Brgy. Ginebra and Phoenix Fuel Masters will try to salvage a win to extend their respective series.
— Joey Boy Capos, The Summit Express
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| Paul Lee hits the dagger three to cop a crucial win for Magnolia. Hotshots just need one more win to book a PBA Finals ticket. Photo Credit: OneSports PH |
With barely a minute passed by since the opening tipoff, Phoenix’s Coach, Jamike Jarin, had no choice but to burn an unnecessary timeout to cool down the hot shooting Hotshots due to a 7-0 blitz. Coach Jarin’s powwow eventually paid off as his squad finally put themselves on the scoreboard right after.
Phoenix tried to fight back, but Magnolia seemed too strong for the young squad as the latter expanded its lead to a double-digit midway through the opener.
Calvin Abueva came off the bench to provide additional muscle for the Hotshots but fell on the floor after absorbing an inadvertent elbow from Jonathan Williams at the fifth-minute mark of the first.
Despite Abueva’s misfortune, Magnolia remained in control and total domination over Phoenix with a 30-14 commanding lead heading to the 2nd quarter.
Both teams slowed down offensively in the second. Noticeably, Fuel Masters’ super local scorer, Jason Perkins, hadn’t scored a point in the game which was a piece of bad news. On the other hand, Magnolia got a lucky break at Abueva’s re-entry despite a suspected fractured nose.
Quietly, Phoenix, led by Kenneth Tuffin and Tyler Tio got back on track and slowly carved its rival’s advantage. Halfway through the second, the lead downsized to a single-digit.
Aside from Fuel Masters’ hustle plays in the second period, Tyler Bey opened up the opportunity for Phoenix to catch up as the prolific import got into early foul trouble. At the end of the half, Phoenix found itself just down by 9, 43-34.
Prior to the main bout, San Miguel Beermen made it two in a row and put Brgy. Ginebra Gin Kings on the brink of elimination with a 106-96 and 2-0 series win.
Best Import of the Conference, Bennie Boatwright dropped 38 markers supported by June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez who both contributed 17 significant points.
Come the third quarter, Fuel Masters continued to surge as Perkins had finally awakened from a long hibernation.
Sensing that the semis-newcomers were closely inching, Paul Lee made it rain from the downtown to prevent Coach Jarin’s boys from overtaking and building their momentum.
Phoenix totally surprised everyone in the 3rd quarter as the underdogs made an 18-10 scoring run and trailed Magnolia by just 1 with 3 minutes left in the period.
A couple of minutes more and Phoenix tied the game for the first time. But not for long, as Jio Jalalon beat the buzzer with a well-guarded layup to regain the lead 62-60.
Just like their intensity in the previous chapter, the Fuelmasters sustained it and snatched the lead that petrified the Hotshots. This time, it was Coach Chito Victolero’s turn to call a ceasefire to talk things over.
Williams, who was also timid in the first half, had been instrumental in Phoenix’s offensive onslaught in this quarter. The reliable reinforcement jotted down 25 points with 5 more minutes to go in the game.
Magnolia, with its vast playoff experience, just needed a couple of good stops to recapture the lead and sent the entire Phoenix team into panic mode in the last 2 minutes of the ballgame.
Inexperience and crucial turnovers hit the Fuel Masters in the end game sending them to a 0-2 series deficit and officially surrendered to the Hotshots, 82-78 as the final horn sounded.
Both San Miguel Beermen and Magnolia Hotshots have the chance to wrap up the semifinals on Sunday, January 28, while Brgy. Ginebra and Phoenix Fuel Masters will try to salvage a win to extend their respective series.
— Joey Boy Capos, The Summit Express
