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ANTIPOLO — Magnolia moved a win away from a much-awaited trip to the Finals, turning back NLEX, 87-78, in Game 5 of their 2018 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series Sunday at Ynares Center here.
Learning their lessons from their lackluster showing in Game 4, the Hotshots staged a decisive 16-4 run to open the fourth quarter, turning a slim 59-58 edge to a 75-62 avantage capped off by an Aldrech Ramos three-point play with 5:59 remaining.
Mark Barroca led a balanced attack for Magnolia with 18 points, seven rebounds, two assists while Ramos went a rebound shy of a double-double with 15 markers and nine boards.
Paul Lee also got 15 points, four assists, and three rebounds, while Ian Sangalang had an efficient night anew with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists as he helped his team push its lead to as high as 18, 84-66, late.
Magnolia goes for the kill on Tuesday in Game at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
But if there’s something coach Chito Victolero knows after last season’s semifinal failures, it’s that going on the hill isn’t a guarantee.
“We have to win four games. I don’t need to remind that to the players,” he said. “We’ve been in this position before and we want to take it to the next level.”
The Hotshots are on a four-year Finals drought. The last time they made the championship round was when they completed a Grand Slam in the 2014 Governors’ Cup.
Kiefer Ravena paced NLEX with 21 points and five assists as he did much of the heavy lifting without Kevin Alas, who injured his right knee 40 seconds into the game.
Alex Mallari added 11 markers and nine boards in the Road Warriors defeat.
The scores:
MAGNOLIA 87 — Barroca 18, Lee 15, Ramos 15, Sangalang 12, Simon 7, Dela Rosa 6, Pascual 4, Reavis 4, Brondial 2, Gamalinda 2, Jalalon 2, Herndon 0, Mendoza 0.
NLEX 78 — Ravena 21, Mallari 13, Soyud 11, Fonacier 9, Miranda 8, Quiñahan 8, Rios 3, Taulava 2, Tiongson 2, Baguio 1, Alas 0.
Quarters: 20-20, 37-36, 59-58, 87-78.