Romeo Travis vs Kevin racal–PBA Images
Steadier down the stretch, Magnolia averted a huge fourth-quarter collapse to carve out an 83-73 decision of Alaska at Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday night, practically clinching a twice-to-beat advantage in the first round of the PBA Governors’ Cup playoffs.
“We just want to win more games and see where we will wind up (at the end of the elimination round),” said coach Chito Victolero after his wards rose to 7-1 and remain in the solo lead.
Romeo Travis had 19 points and 17 rebounds in his first game against his former team while Jio Jalalon, coming off a first career triple double, chalked up 18 and nine as the Hotshots extended their winning run to five while snapping Alaska’s two-game streak.
It was just the second loss in seven games for the Aces, who were very much in the fight with under three minutes remaining after rallying from several huge deficits.
Earlier, Baser Amer was at the center of every play in the stretch for Meralco and the Bolts finally held it together to stay in the running for a playoff berth with a 108-105 win over NLEX.
Held scoreless in their previous game, Baser hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 13.6 seconds remaining.
“We kept our flickering (playoff) hopes alive,” Meralco coach Norman Black said after appearing for the customary winning coach’s interview for the first time since a 109-106 nipping of lowly Columbian at Ynares Center in Antipolo on Aug. 17, the tournament’s opening day.
“I’m really glad to see you guys. It’s been a long time,” he told reporters with a smile.
Amer first completed a three-point play after picking up NLEX import Aaron Fuller’s sixth foul, before making a smart play by calling for a timeout while on the way down on the baseline that enabled Black to set up the game-winning play.
He finished with 22 points, all but five of them coming in the fourth quarter where the Bolts erased a 16-point deficit. He topped off his offensive brilliance by nailing the wide-open trey with the shotclock winding down.
Amer didn’t score in Meralco’s 94-99 loss to NorthPort on Friday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Allen Durham scored 36 points, had 18 rebounds and seven assists, finally getting a win after another brilliant all-around effort that saw the Bolts rise to 2-6.
Meralco remained way out of the circle of eight teams that will advance to the playoffs. It must win all its remaining three games and hope that others in the bottom half start losing to have a chance of advancing.
NLEX is one of those clubs that Meralco could catch after the Road Warriors lost for the third straight time to go down to 4-5.
Meralco plays Magnolia on Friday at Ynares Antipolo.
“We needed this (win) badly,” he said. “Let’s move on to the next game.”