MANILA, Philippines – The Hotshots sustained their winning momentum from the previous game to shock the Beermen for the second time with a 96-85 win and tied the series at two apiece on Friday, February 9, 2024, at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
Dejavu! Magnolia replicated its Game 3 defensive effort as they forced San Miguel to commit early turnovers in exchange for an early lead.
Bennie Boatwright Jr. and Tyler Bey, who both struggled previously, came aggressive in Game 4, hoping to shrug off their past subpar performances.
With the imports, June Mar Fajardo was also active offensively at the dawn of the opener to level SMB’s scoring with the Hotshots and avoid another Magnolia win.
Midway through the half, the Beermen also intensified their defensive tactics to limit the locals, particularly Mark Barocca, from surging.
Despite San Miguel’s revamped defense, Magnolia’s scoring momentum for the previous game carried on; this time, the Hotshots were led by Calvin Abueva.
Abueva’s tenacity on the floor yielded his team a 27-19 advantage after the first 12 minutes of the game.
The Beermen promptly bounced back as they started the 2nd quarter. Fajardo capitalized on Bey’s absence as the latter took a breather.
Shocked with Fajardo’s domination inside the shaded lane, Coach Chito Victolero re-inserted Bey, and his import responded by manhandling “The Kraken.”
Slowly but surely, San Miguel tried to crawl back on top. Compared to Game 3, SMB had a more balanced scoring from the locals and Boatwright Jr.
Just as the Beermen nearly closed the gap, Magnolia’s Aris Dionisio did what he always does best when sent in: to drain triples.
Dionisio’s heroic acts late in the 2nd period secured his team a 49-45 advantage heading to the 2nd half.
Before the tipoff, the conference awards were held. CJ Perez won the Best Player of the Conference plum, and Phoenix’s Jonathan Williams took the Best Import of the Conference plaque.
It was not a good start for SMB at the beginning of the 3rd period as Fajardo seemed cramped after battling for a rebound against Bey and Ian Sanggalang.
Sans Fajardo, Bey lorded underneath the basket and added woes to Coach Jorge Gallent’s piling problems.
Miraculously, even when Fajardo was on the sideline, San Miguel still managed to close Magnolia’s distance.
Not only was Fajardo sustained an injury in tonight’s game. Paul Lee had his left eyelid cut after getting tangled with Boatwright Jr.
The tides shifted to San Miguel at the 2-minute mark of the penultimate quarter as the Beermen finally snatched the lead for the first time in this game.
SMB hung on its slim 73-72 lead to close the 3rd quarter and prepare for Magnolia’s final chapter retaliation.
A quarter has passed, and the fans haven’t seen Fajardo return to the court after last seen limping out due to an apparent injury.
Meanwhile, the seesaw-scoring battle began as both teams traded baskets one after another.
At long last, “The Kraken” finally checked in to aid his team, especially since Boatwright Jr. started fatiguing.
Fajardo’s re-entry was somehow significant as Magnolia tried to get away anew.
Bey showed Boatwright Jr. who’s the better import in the series. For two straight games, Bey contained the gassed-out Beerman.
The “Leethal Weapon” signaled that the game was over after draining a long trey from almost halfcourt and a double-digit lead with over a minute left.
As the final buzzer echoed, the Hotshots leveled the series to 2-2 with a 96-85 win over the Beermen.
The series tiebreaker game will return to the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, February 11, 2024, at 7:30 pm.
— Joey Boy Capos, The Summit Express
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| Tyler Bey posted a 26-12 double-double performance against Bennie Boatwright Jr. and helped Magnolia even the series at 2-2. Photo Credit: PBA |
Dejavu! Magnolia replicated its Game 3 defensive effort as they forced San Miguel to commit early turnovers in exchange for an early lead.
Bennie Boatwright Jr. and Tyler Bey, who both struggled previously, came aggressive in Game 4, hoping to shrug off their past subpar performances.
With the imports, June Mar Fajardo was also active offensively at the dawn of the opener to level SMB’s scoring with the Hotshots and avoid another Magnolia win.
Midway through the half, the Beermen also intensified their defensive tactics to limit the locals, particularly Mark Barocca, from surging.
Despite San Miguel’s revamped defense, Magnolia’s scoring momentum for the previous game carried on; this time, the Hotshots were led by Calvin Abueva.
Abueva’s tenacity on the floor yielded his team a 27-19 advantage after the first 12 minutes of the game.
The Beermen promptly bounced back as they started the 2nd quarter. Fajardo capitalized on Bey’s absence as the latter took a breather.
Shocked with Fajardo’s domination inside the shaded lane, Coach Chito Victolero re-inserted Bey, and his import responded by manhandling “The Kraken.”
Slowly but surely, San Miguel tried to crawl back on top. Compared to Game 3, SMB had a more balanced scoring from the locals and Boatwright Jr.
Just as the Beermen nearly closed the gap, Magnolia’s Aris Dionisio did what he always does best when sent in: to drain triples.
Dionisio’s heroic acts late in the 2nd period secured his team a 49-45 advantage heading to the 2nd half.
Before the tipoff, the conference awards were held. CJ Perez won the Best Player of the Conference plum, and Phoenix’s Jonathan Williams took the Best Import of the Conference plaque.
It was not a good start for SMB at the beginning of the 3rd period as Fajardo seemed cramped after battling for a rebound against Bey and Ian Sanggalang.
Sans Fajardo, Bey lorded underneath the basket and added woes to Coach Jorge Gallent’s piling problems.
Miraculously, even when Fajardo was on the sideline, San Miguel still managed to close Magnolia’s distance.
Not only was Fajardo sustained an injury in tonight’s game. Paul Lee had his left eyelid cut after getting tangled with Boatwright Jr.
The tides shifted to San Miguel at the 2-minute mark of the penultimate quarter as the Beermen finally snatched the lead for the first time in this game.
SMB hung on its slim 73-72 lead to close the 3rd quarter and prepare for Magnolia’s final chapter retaliation.
A quarter has passed, and the fans haven’t seen Fajardo return to the court after last seen limping out due to an apparent injury.
Meanwhile, the seesaw-scoring battle began as both teams traded baskets one after another.
At long last, “The Kraken” finally checked in to aid his team, especially since Boatwright Jr. started fatiguing.
Fajardo’s re-entry was somehow significant as Magnolia tried to get away anew.
Bey showed Boatwright Jr. who’s the better import in the series. For two straight games, Bey contained the gassed-out Beerman.
The “Leethal Weapon” signaled that the game was over after draining a long trey from almost halfcourt and a double-digit lead with over a minute left.
As the final buzzer echoed, the Hotshots leveled the series to 2-2 with a 96-85 win over the Beermen.
The series tiebreaker game will return to the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, February 11, 2024, at 7:30 pm.
— Joey Boy Capos, The Summit Express
